In April 2016, for the first time, the Blue Flag International Jury will award tour operators in marine tourism. With the help of an expert working party, the world’s leading eco-label has devised new criteria for boat-based tourism activities.
The idea to certify businesses that care for the needs of their customers as well as for the environment was welcomed by Blue Flag’s National Operators worldwide.
In 2016, Blue Flag South Africa will be partnering with the South African National Department of Tourism on a three year project which will focus on improving services and adherence to the Blue Flag criteria by employing 200 community members from low income households
St. Maarten held its annual Blue Flag ceremony in December, honouring the achievements of the awarded sites and their committment to the Blue Flag programme in the past years.
Blue Flag International has been taking part in the OPERAs project in the past three years, and provides a user point of view towards marine environment and environmental education.
In November, Catarina Goncalves and Fatima Viera from ABAE, the FEE national organisation in Portugal, presented, on behalf of Blue Flag International, the Foundation for Environmental Education and the Blue Flag programme at several seminars in Cabo Verde!
Two Japaneese municipalities, Kamakura and Takahama, are working hard towards obtaining the Blue Flag for 2016. For the first time they met to exchange experiences and discuss with the Blue Flag National Operator and the Blue Flag International Director.
Born from a French idea in 1985, Blue Flag turned 30 this year in its mother country! French municipalities came to this special anniversary event, to receive their flag and to exchange ideas amongst each other.
More than 4000 sites were awarded the world’s leading eco-label for the 2015 season by the Blue Flag International Jury on 9 April in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) recognises and supports the Blue Flag and Green Key programmes of the Foundation for Environmental Education.
To conclude 2014, Blue Flag National Operator Meeting took place in Chania, Greece from 16th to 17th October. 45 Blue Flag National Operators from 40 countries, as well as Blue Flag International representatives and partners, attended the stimulating and productive meeting.
More than 150 sites were awarded the Blue Flag, the world’s leading eco-label, for the 2014 season. Awards were made in the Caribbean, South America, Africa and in the Southwest Pacific by the Blue Flag International Jury on 16 September 2014.
Blue Flag national operators met in Tenby, Wales, at the end of October to share their work and discuss the growth and strategy of the programme moving forward.
Experts met in Copenhagen to discuss the Marine Protected Areas and how to ensure their better management. An international IUCN workshop was held in Copenhagen on 24-26 April regarding Marine Protected Areas and their management.
