Linea Directa 200 LEFT COL CAR INSURANCE

PROPERTY SEARCH

DomusVi Ciudad de Murcia residential cross content 1200

Date Published: 20/06/2024

Murcia beaches score the most S for Sustainability flags in all of Spain

ARCHIVED ARTICLE -

Andalucía and the Valencian Community were close runners-up at the 2024 awards

Murcia beaches score the most S for Sustainability flags in all of Spain

The beautiful beaches of the Region of Murcia have just added two more feathers to their caps, securing a total of 47 ‘Q for Quality’ and 34 ‘S for Tourism Sustainability’ flags at the 2024 awards.

Throughout Spain as a whole, 484 flags will fly this summer, acknowledging the outstanding coastlines and nautical-sports facilities the entire country has to offer.

The Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality and Sustainability (ICTES) presented the Q for Quality and S for Sustainability Flags to municipal representatives: mayors, councilors and destination managers of more than fifty Spanish town councils, in an event chaired by the Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosario Sánchez, and the President of the Institute, Miguel Mirones.

By Autonomous Community, Andalucía leads the Q flag ranking, with 127 certified beaches. It’s followed a long way back by the Valencian Community with 54, Murcia with 47, the Balearic Islands with 24, Galicia with 22 and Catalonia with 16. Cantabria now has 12 flags, Asturias and the Canary Islands have been awarded 3 each, Ceuta was given 2 and Euskadi boasts 1.

But when it comes to the coveted S badge, the Region of Murcia is right at the head of the pack, securing 34 beach flags for tourism sustainability for the 2024 summer season. Rounding off the top three once more are Andalucía (28) and the Valencian Community (16).

By municipality, Marbella is out in front, with 19 beaches certified with the Q, followed by Sanxenxo with 16 certified beaches and Calviá, with 15. As for the S badge for sustainability, Cartagena tops the ranking with 12, and next up are Mazarrón and San Javier, with 11 sandy stretches each.

During the event held in Jerez de la Frontera, Ms Sánchez congratulated the destinations whose beaches have been accredited on behalf of the Government of Spain and thanked ICTES for its work:

“This is a collective success, thank you to all those who work and strive to ensure that our beaches continue to be a global benchmark, to those who ensure that, every year, the flags that recognise quality and sustainability continue to fly on more than 300 beaches on our coastline.”

She added that “these recognitions are an incentive for those who visit us, but also a source of pride for those who live in that region.”

Not to be confused with the equally sought-after Blue Flags, the Q and S awards, accredited by ENAC (Entidad Nacional de Acreditación, or the National Accreditation Entity), are the only certifications in Spain’s tourism sector that adhere to stringent UNE and ISO regulations. Their audits are exhaustive and comprehensive, ensuring that recipients of the badges meet exceptional standards.

The ‘Q’ for Quality flag signifies a beach or marina’s commitment to the international quality standard UNE-ISO 13009. This standard, agreed upon by nearly 100 countries, guarantees excellent service and facility management, including cleaning, waste collection, safety, rescue, tourist information and leisure services.

The ‘S’ for Sustainability flag, on the other hand, aligns with Specification UNE 0083, which focuses on tourism organisations’ contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This specification has been developed by the Joint Group GC-UNE 334 Sustainable Tourism, with ICTES playing a pivotal role. The ‘S’ flag recognises beach management that actively works towards environmental, social and economic sustainability goals.

Also of interest: Region of Murcia awarded 33 coveted Blue Flags for 2024

Image: ICTES

Linea Directa Bottom Article M-Z CAR INSURANCE

Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox

Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)