The Golden Bay (Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa), nestled on the northwest coast of Malta, is renowned for its natural beauty and ecological significance.
That’s why many tourists arrive at the area, resulting to severe crowding that impacts nature and the tourist experience.
Ir-Ramla tal-Mixquqa is 1 of the 8 pilot sites of TOURISMO, an innovative effort to manage tourist flows sustainably.

The Malta Regional Development and Dialogue Foundation (MRDDf), in collaboration with the Il-Majjistral Nature and History Park, has initiated a five-year program employing GDPR-compliant technologies, including people-counting CCTV and deep-learning algorithms. These tools monitor pedestrian and vehicular traffic, providing insights into visitor density and behavior during peak tourist seasons.

Visitors have the opportunity to also experience Golden Bay in real-time through our live stream.

This initiative not only aids in managing tourism effectively but also supports the conservation efforts of the area’s unique ecosystems, including rare sand dune habitats and diverse flora and fauna. The data collected informs NATURA 2000 management plans, ensuring the protection of this Special Area of Conservation.

Engagement with local stakeholders—such as the Mellieħa Local Council, Environmental Resources Authority (ERA), Cleansing Department, and Malta Tourism Authority (MTA)—is integral to developing solutions that balance tourism with environmental preservation.

This pilot is one of eight across the Mediterranean under the TOURISMO project, each tailored to address the unique challenges of sustainable tourism in diverse environments.