- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Murcia Today Alicante Today
Date Published: 11/05/2021
ARCHIVED - Andalucia breaks record for the number of Blue Flags awarded this year
The region of Andalucia has broken its own record for Blue Flags, gaining 18 more than last year.
Andalucia’s continued push to comply with environmental legislation and improve beaches is paying off after the region has been awarded 137 prestigious Blue Flags this year in a huge boost for both tourism and the environment.
The region now has Spain’s second highest number of the flags, which are handed out in recognition of water quality, safety and environmental concerns, after the region of Valencia and ahead of Catalonia and Galicia.
Spain has itself gained a record number of Blue Flags in 2021, with a total of 713 of the coveted flags, the highest amount of any country participating in the scheme.
Of the 137 flags, 115 were awarded to beaches, 20 to marinas and two to sustainable boats, and is much higher than the 96 flags given to Andalucia in 2019.
Malaga province received the most Blue Flags of the region with 41 in total, 34 for beaches, five for ports and two for sustainable boats, followed by Cadiz with 35 flags, including 30 for beaches and five for ports.
Almeria received the third highest number with 33, followed by Huelva with 16, and Granada with 12.
New entries in this year’s list of Blue Flags include Las Dunas beach in Huelva, as well as El Palo and La Malagueta beaches in Malaga, and the San Jose marina in Almeria.
Blue Flags are a distinction which have been awarded by the European Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) to beaches and ports for more than 30 years and the rising numbers given across Andalucia is a result of the region’s ongoing work to protect the environment as well as to make the most of Andalucia’s coastline appeal for tourists, who visit the area in their millions each summer.
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