On Monday, the 12th of October 2020, the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL) received the Blue Flag Pilot status from the Blue Flag International Jury for three beaches in Tobago. The beaches of King’s Bay, Bloody Bay and Mt Irvine Bay received a formal endorsement to fully engage in meeting the Blue Flag criteria and to submit their applications for the Blue Flag award as early as 2021. This makes Tobago the only island in the Lesser Antilles working officially towards the full implementation of the Blue Flag, which benefits its visitors and residents alike. Blue Flag is one of the programmes implemented in Trinidad and Tobago by the NGO Green T&T.
Photo: King’s Bay, © Jacob Bock
The Blue Flag Pilot status has been announced by the Blue Flag National Coordinator, Joanna Moses-Wothke, who also provided the details leading up to the announcement as well as information about subsequent steps towards the Blue Flag certification.
Tobago was always poised as an ideal Blue Flag destination. With its pristine beaches, an intact montane tropical rainforest and small communities, it was more a matter of time, when the island would also be certified as one. Any beach that applies for the Blue Flag award must first undergo a gap analysis against the Blue Flag standards and must submit measures towards compliance. Once the pilot beaches are in full compliance, TTAL can submit the beach applications to the National and International Blue Flag Juries for the official Blue Flag award as early as 2021,
Joanna Moses-Wothke explained.
Besides the Blue Flag requirements, the three beaches share unique ecosystems such as coral reefs and rivers with rich biodiversity. Additionally, King’s Bay and Bloody Bay are situated in the planned North East Tobago UNESCO Man-and the-Biosphere site, another credence of international significance that promotes blue and green economies and sustainable management of natural resources.
Narendra Ramgulam, Director Tourism Product Development & Destination Management at the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited, stated:
Blue Flag is one of the most reputable and recognized awards for beaches worldwide. Having been granted pilot status for three beaches means that we are taking steps in the right direction. This will not only help to boost our environmental sustainability as a destination, but through this process, we are also leveraging and building confidence in our eco-conscious travellers. Trends from leading tourism journals and studies indicate that travellers post COVID-19 are going to be demanding safe destinations and destinations that are perceived to be clean/green. In this regard, Blue Flag gives the destination Tobago an edge over our competitors, as no other beaches in the English-Speaking Caribbean arein the Blue Flag pilot phase. This definitely makes us first movers in this aspect, and we hope to continue building on this thrust as we move forward as a destination with the image of being untouched and unspoilt.
More information on the Blue Flag programme in Tobago can be found at http://green-tt.org/blue-flag-tt/
Photo: King’s Bay, © Tobago Tourism Agency