Blue Flag International is happy to announce the sites awarded for this coming season 2018. We would like to congratulate all countries and municipalities that have successfully awarded the Blue Flag to local beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. A number of countries have sent us information and pictures of the awarding ceremonies. We would like to share stories and/or pictures from Italy, Jordan and Slovenia with you.
Italian 2018 Blue Flag awarded sites presented at the National Research Council in Rome
The announcement of Italy's awarded sites for 2018
The National Research Council in Rome, the conference for the presentation of the Blue Flag awarded sites for 2018, took place on the 7th of May. 175 mayors of the awarded municipalities were present and a total of 368 beaches and 70 marinas were awarded. Among other historical partners of FEE Italia, we can mention the attendance of the ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) and Coast Guard General Command.
This conference was also an opportunity to celebrate two municipalities, Moneglia and Grado, that have had Blue Flag sites awarded continuously for 30 years. In Italy the Blue Flag programme is used as a step-by-step guidance for coastal municipalities in choosing strategies for sustainable management of their territory. They do so while increasing benefits for the environment and life quality.
Jordan Blue Flag marina and beaches awarding ceremonies for the 2018 season
Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay Blue Flag beach awarding ceremony
The marina of Ayla is considered one of the extraordinary mega projects at the Gulf of Aqaba that has created about 17 kilometers of waterfront. In 2018, the marina of Ayla was awarded with the Blue Flag as the first marina in Jordan to receive this recognition. The marina contains contemporary facilities that comply with international standards. These facilities include sewage stations, a fuel filling facility, an oil discharge unit, a transport station for golf vehicles, a system for cleaning and control the bottom of the water, and a system for cleaning the boats internally and externally.
The beaches from InterContinental Aqaba Resort, Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba and Mövenpick Resort & Spa Tala Bay were Blue Flag awarded for 2018. In addition, the InterContinental Aqaba Resort also has the Green Key award, and is committed to maintaining and sustaining the requirements for both labels in the future.
National Blue Flag and Green Key awarding ceremony 2018 in Slovenia
Boris Susmak, Blue Flag National Operator Slovenia, and Finn Bolding Thomsen, International Green Key Director, at the Blue Flag ceremony at the Internautica Boat Show in Slovenia.
Click here to read about the Blue Flag awarding ceremonies for 2018 season: Part 2.