More than 120 sites were awarded the world’s leading eco-label for the 2016-2017 season by the Blue Flag International Jury.
On September 6th, the International Blue Flag jury members met for the second time in 2016 in order to review and award the applications of the sites based in the Southern Hemisphere. 124 sites have been awarded for the 2016-2017 Blue Flag season in the Southern Hemisphere, 97 beaches, 18 marinas and 11 boats within nine countries running the Blue Flag programme in this part of the world.
Globally, the Blue Flag is proudly flying over 3559 beaches, 676 marinas and 30 boats in 2016.
After years of work on the Blue the Flag for Sustainable Boating Tourism Operators criteria, we are glad to announce that the first boats for the Southern Hemisphere have been awarded, in Puerto Rico and South Africa.
“This new development is extremely important for us, and it’s very exciting to see that sustainable boating tourism operators in Puerto Rico and South Africa are joining the ones awarded in April in Iceland and Spain. These four countries have successfully implemented the Blue Flag award for eco-tourism boats. They are a great inspiration to the other countries of the network which are also working on implementing the award for eco-tourism boats in the near future. We are looking forward to cooperate on this development with new partners, such as the World Cetacean Alliance”, says Sophie Bachet Granados, International Blue Flag Director.
The full list of awarded sites will be published on the 1st of November on the international Blue Flag website. Users can visit the new Blue Flag website and enjoy its new maps and search systems, in order to find the perfect site depending on their needs.
The next meeting of the Blue Flag International Jury will take place the 20th of April 2017 to award beaches, marinas and boats from the Northern Hemisphere.
The International Blue Flag Jury is composed of representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Lifesaving Federation (ILS), the European Environment Agency (EEA), the European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), an Environmental Education expert, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and FEE. You can find out more about them on Blue Flag’s website.
The Blue Flag greatly appreciates the support of its sponsor and worldwide flag producer, Semaphore.