South African Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk launched the annual Blue Flag Season initiative at Grotto Beach in the Western Cape on October 11.
More than 40 countries across the globe are currently participating in the programme, with 3,849 beaches and marinas being awarded Blue Flag status this year.
Since being introduced to South Africa in 2001, 36 beaches hold Blue Flag status, and 17 hold pilot status.
“Growth has been significant and sustainable for most coastal municipalities and each year sees new beaches being introduced to the programme,” said Van Schalkwyk.
This year, four Marinas were awarded full blue flag status: the Yachtport in Saldanha, Granger Bay Water Club and False Bay Yacht Club in the City of Cape Town and the Royal Alfred Marina in the Ndlambe Municipality in the Eastern Cape. The voluntary eco-label is given to beaches that meet 32 main criteria spanning over three aspects of coastal management including: water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management and safety and services.
“As the number of Blue Flag beaches increases in South African, domestic visitors are increasingly exercising their choices in which beaches they visit and, as with international trends, our Blue Flag beaches are becoming the ‘beach of choice’,” the minister concluded.
Blue Flag season kicks off
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