“Blue Flag” 2024 Greece: 625 beaches,18 marinas, 9 touristic boats

Blue Flag 2024: Greece is second in the world with 625 awarded beaches, 18 marinas an 9 touristic boats. The international Blue Flag quality award evaluates cleanness of bathing water and beaches, as well as services for the visitors.

The prefecture of Halkidiki emerged as the top prefecture in Greece, with 104 Blue Flags, while the Region of Crete maintains the first position with 146 Blue flags.

According to this year’s list, which was announced by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF), the National Operator of the “Blue Flag” International Program in the country, the awards for beaches, marinas and tourist boats are for another year more than 600 ranking and this year Greece in 2nd place worldwide among 52 countries.

It is worth noting that there is a steady upward trend in Greece with an increase in awarded beaches every year, while the country owns 15% of internationally awarded beaches.

The International Commission awarded a total of 4,252 beaches, 733 marinas and 141 tourist boats around the world.

In 2023, Greece had 617 beaches, 18 marines and 6 touristic boats awarded with Blue Flags.

The Blue Flag Program

The “Blue Flag” is the most recognisable and internationally widespread ecological symbol of quality in the world. It has been awarded since 1987, to beaches and marinas that meet the strict award conditions.

A necessary condition for awarding a coast with the “Blue Flag” is that its water quality is “Excellent”. No other quality rating, even “Good”, is accepted by the Program. The award lasts for one year.

PS It is worth noting that awarded beaches, marinas and touristic boats may lose the Blue Flag during the one-year-period, even in the middle of the summer season, if mid-term controls find deviations from the program and deficiencies. characteristically 17 beaches lost the award in 2019.

source: eepf.gr