The highly sought-after accolades are awarded annually by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) across almost 50 countries worldwide. Blue Flag beaches are judged on four different categories: water quality, safety and services, environmental management, and environmental education and information.
Attaining Blue Flag status is seen as the gold standard for beaches and is widely recognised as an indication of the high environmental and quality standards of the beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. Blue Flags are only awarded to the world’s cleanest, most pristine beaches.
With a world record 577 Blue Flag’s awarded to Spanish beaches last year (beating their own record of 573 in 2014), the Mediterranean country is clealry host to the world’s most pristine beaches. 2016 has proved no different with Spain retaining its top spot adding another 9 Blue Flag beaches to its ever-growing roster.
Spain’s Canary Islands have also had great success in the Blue Flag awards accepting 66 Blue Flags with Tenerife receiving an impressive 15 Flags, an increase of four since 2015.
