The PN said on Thursday that these reports, which are based on data provided by the Environmental Protection Directorate, should prompt a sense of urgency within the government. "Clean seas are not only an environmental and public health issue, but also one of the most important elements of Malta's tourism product," the PN said. The Nationalist Party noted that the government's reactive stance towards polluted beaches "highlights the clear differences" between the two major parties and their respective approaches in power. It said that after investments in the area's water quality, treatment, beach management, cleanliness, safety, and sustainability, St. George's Bay acquired Blue Flag status in 2009. "This is a step backwards that damages Malta's reputation and undermines the work of all those whose livelihoods depend on the tourism industry," the PN said.