Portugal has 433 Blue Flag-awarded sites
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Blue Flag Global has just announced that Portugal has been awarded 433 Blue Flags for beaches, marinas, and eco-tourism sites this year, one more than in 2023.
The Blue Flag is a prestigious international award given to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators who meet and maintain exacting standards for environmental sustainability, education, safety, and accessibility. To qualify for the Blue Flag, stringent criteria in these areas must be met. A beach that receives the Blue Flag award meets several criteria, including water quality and planning for space, security and services, surveillance, and public awareness.
Central to the ideals of the Blue Flag programme is the aim of connecting the public with their surroundings and encouraging them to learn more about their environment. As such, environmental education activities must be offered and promoted in addition to a permanent display of information relevant to the site regarding biodiversity, ecosystems, and environmental experiences.
The president of the European Blue Flag Association, José Archer, said that during the next bathing season, 394 beaches have the Blue Flag in Portugal, distributed across 103 municipalities.
He said it was “good news” that the number of beaches, marinas, and boats with the Blue Flag “has grown again.”
José Archer also highlighted the “continuous growth of inland beaches,” admitting that they are “naturally much more sensitive, more difficult to attain and maintain.”
“Portugal stands out enormously in terms of its inland beaches. We are, worldwide, the second country with the most inland [river] beaches, with forty-nine, more than double that of Spain and Italy, a number that deserves to be highlighted,” he added.
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Published in: Guide to Portugal / Miscellaneous / Portuguese Life / Travel