Following the three-day seminar, more than 150 participants were awarded the Local Blue Flag Responsibles Training Certificate. Organized for the 16th time by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Turkiye (TÜRÇEV), the Local Blue Flag Responsible Training Seminar took place on 24–26 November 2025 at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change.

The seminar brought together senior representatives from leading institutions supporting the Blue Flag Programme in our country, including Fatih Turan, Director General of Environmental Management at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change; Dr. Abdulkadir Ateş, Chairperson of TÜRÇEV and former Minister of Tourism; Halil İbrahim Kılıçarslan, Head of the Project Construction Department at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism; along with experts from the Ministry of Health, the Turkish Coast Guard Command and the Turkish Underwater Sports Federation (TSSF).

Representing 54 municipalities, 4 tourism unions and NGOs, 6 companies and 13 public institutions, more than 150 participants received their certificates at the end of the three-day training. These individuals will serve as Local Blue Flag Responsibles, authorized to implement and oversee the Programme in their respective regions on behalf of their institutions. To date, a total of 1,731 municipal personnel have participated in trainings organized by TÜRÇEV.

Since its implementation in Turkiye in 1993, the Blue Flag Programme has continued to grow. As of 2025, Turkiye has earned the Blue Flag for 557 beaches, 29 marinas, 18 tourism boats and 8 individual yachts. With this number of awarded beaches, Turkiye ranks 3rd globally among more than 50 participating countries.

In regions where the Blue Flag Programme is applied, various institutions designated by TÜRÇEV operate as local responsible bodies. While municipalities constitute the majority of these institutions, NGOs, village service unions and accommodation facilities are also included among the local responsible organizations. A Local Blue Flag Responsible is an authorized individual appointed by these institutions to coordinate Blue Flag related work for awarded or candidate beaches and marinas in collaboration with TÜRÇEV.

Credits: Almıla Kindan Cebbari & Betül Ferik