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Date Published: 13/06/2023

Andalucia will fly record number of Blue Flags this summer

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The Andalucia region now holds the second highest number of these prestigious ecolabels for beaches and marinas in Spain

Andalucia will fly record number of Blue Flags this summer

Andalucia has broken its previous record for coveted Blue Flag awards after achieving 148 this year, five more than last year.

The sought-after 'Blue Flag' is one of the most iconic ecolabels for beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators in the world, and Andalucia now holds the second most accolades in Spain, surpassed only by the Valencia region.

In order to qualify for an international Blue Flag, promoted by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and initiated in 1987, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

The promotion is on sustainable practices, in favour of guaranteeing the conservation of natural resources in coastal areas. This addresses challenges such as water quality, environmental management, safety, accessibility, services and environmental education.

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And Andalucia's continued commitment to adhering with environmental legislation and improving beach quality is paying dividends, going from 96 flags in 2019 to 148 this year.

Of the 148 awards achieved by Andalucia this year, 127 correspond to beaches, 19 to marinas and two to tourist boats.

By province, once again, Malaga received the most flags with 47 (39 beaches, six ports and two sustainable boats). Following closely in second place is Cadiz with flags (31 beaches and six ports), ahead of Almeria with 33 flags (32 beaches and one port).

The list continues with Huelva, 17 (12 beaches and five ports), Granada, 13 (12 beaches and one port), and Cordoba with one (one beach).

The Regional Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is co-hosting an official regional award ceremony in Hueva on June 21.

On a global level, Spain continues to lead the ranking of countries with the most Blue Flags in the world, with a total of 729 this year, six more than in 2022.

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