Greece in 2nd place worldwide with 519 awarded coasts!
First in Greece again this year, with 89 flags, Halkidiki!
With 519 awarded coasts, Greece is in 2nd place worldwide among 47 countries. In fact, out of the 47 countries participating in the programme, Greece held 12% of the total number of awards.
The Regional Unit of Halkidiki was the first in Greece this year, with 89 flags. The international committee awarded 3,687 beaches, 679 marinas and 55 sustainable tourism vessels around the world. As for the criteria of the programme, these relate to the cleanliness of the sea and the coast, the organisation of the coast, the safety of visitors, the protection of nature and environmental awareness.
According to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF), the national operator of the international “Blue Flag” programme in Greece, the “Blue Flag” is the most recognised and widespread international ecological quality symbol in the world.
It has been awarded since 1987 to beaches and marinas that meet the strict conditions for the award. A prerequisite for a coast to be awarded the Blue Flag is that the water quality of the coast must be “excellent”. It should be noted that no other quality classification, even ‘good’, is acceptable to the programme. The award is valid for one year.
In addition, the other 33 criteria (38 for marinas and 51 for boats), which relate to cleanliness, organisation, information, safety of bathers and visitors, protection of the natural wealth of the coast and coastal area and environmental awareness, must be met.
It should be noted that major foreign travel agencies attach particular importance to the Blue Flag when selecting the destinations they propose to their clients, as a guarantee of the high quality of services offered on the coast and the protection of the environment.
The founder and international coordinator of the programme is the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Denmark, with a membership of 73 countries from all continents. It is represented in Greece by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature. The Ministry of the Environment, through the Special Secretariat for Water, actively supports the Blue Flag programme, recognising its contribution to improving the quality of services at beaches and marinas and promoting the environmental image of our country, and through the Special Secretariat for Water, also participates in the programme’s National Judging Committee.
The Danish-based International Judging Committee (ICJ), which alone decides on awards around the world, includes representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Tourism Organization (WTO), the International Lifeguard Service (ILSE), the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, and the European Union for the Protection of Coasts.
So enjoy the Greek summer without fear!
Πηγή: Προστασία της Φύσης (Ελληνική Εταιρία Προστασίας της Φύσης)
video by DiscoverGreece.com
