2023 - Northern Hemisphere, Blue Flag International invited the National Operators to share examples of Best Practices related to the following topics: “Accessibility and Access for All” and “Energy savings and management”.
45 Best Practices have been submitted by 29 countries as part of this round.
The best practices were presented to the International Jury during the International Jury meeting and were evaluated based on their reproducibility and impact.
The final rankings are reported below, specifying the winning Best Practice and the countries and management bodies they were submitted from.
For the category “Accessibility / Access for all”, the ranking is as follows:
1. ‘The beach must be for everyone’
Martinsicuro Municipality (Italy)
© Martinsicuro Municipality (Italy)
2. ‘MIND barrier-free’
Suma beach, Kobe Municipality (Japan)
© Suma Beach (Japan)
3.’ BEACHES accessible for everyone’
Komotini Municipality (Greece)
© Komotini Municipality (Greece)
In Italy, Handisport 2000 built Martinsicuro, stands out as a fully accessible bathing establishment where young people with disabilities are employed. Japan's mind barrier-free project aims to create inclusive beach experiences and challenge societal perceptions, while Greece's Municipality of Komotini has installed access systems and mechanisms for people with mobility limitations and visual impairments, making it one of the most accessible cities in the country.
These efforts collectively demonstrate a commitment to fostering accessibility and ensuring that everyone can enjoy beach destinations.
The second category “Energy savings and management” ended up with the following results:
1. ‘Turning green and becoming energy independent’
Mediterranean Village Hotel & Spa (Greece)
© Mediterranean Village Hotel & Spa (Greece)
2. ‘The green energy mission of Albena’
Albena AD (Bulgaria)
© Albena AD (Bulgaria)
3. ‘Environmental education and innovation center’
Antalya Municipality (Turkey)
© Antalya Municipality (Turkey)
The Mediterranean Village & Spa in Greece is transitioning into an energy-independent destination through various actions such as recycling, energy-saving systems, and use of renewable energy sources. It proudly maintains the Green Key certification and the Blue Flag on its beach. Antalya Municipality in Turkey focuses on environmental education, organizing workshops for raising awareness. Albena in Bulgaria, a Blue Flag beach, emphasizes sustainability through solar energy, circular economy principles, and green transportation, producing 50% of its energy from renewables.
The best practices will be promoted on the Blue Flag social media channels, so stay tuned!