TÜRKİYE INCREASED ITS NUMBER OF BLUE FLAG BEACHES AND BECAME 3rd IN THE WORLD!

2018 Blue Flag awards announced

TÜRKİYE INCREASED ITS NUMBER OF BLUE FLAG BEACHES AND BECAME 3rd IN THE WORLD!

459 beaches, 22 marinas and 10 yachts qualified to receive the Blue Flag.

The International Blue Flag Jury announced the 2018 Blue Flag awards. This year, the Blue Flag will fly at 459 beaches, 22 marinas and 10 yachts in Türkiye.

The Blue Flag Programme, conducted in our country under the coordination of the Turkish Foundation for Environmental Education (TÜRÇEV), is implemented internationally under the coordination of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in 49 countries around the world.

The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, reported the country ranking of all other countries implementing the Blue Flag Programme in 2018, while announcing that it would reveal the number of beaches and marinas that qualified for the award on 24 May. Accordingly, Türkiye once again became 3rd in the world by number of beaches. Spain is in first place and Greece in second. France follows Türkiye in 4th place, and Italy comes 5th.

Following this success achieved by our country, the President of the Turkish Foundation for Environmental Education, Rıza Epikmen, said the following:

''Our Foundation is striving for Türkiye's development in tourism and its attainment of international standards. The world tourism sector now prefers Blue Flag facilities. The Blue Flag is the eco-label most widely recognised and known by the public worldwide, sought after by those planning holidays and by tour operators. With this characteristic, it holds a distinct place in our country's tourism sector and in the international tourism market. The large number of flags is also a certificate that our beaches are clean from a microbiological standpoint and sensitive in terms of environmental management. As the Turkish Foundation for Environmental Education, we wish for a good season in 2018 with our Blue Flags flying along our coasts.''

The Blue Flag Programme began to be implemented internationally in 1987, and in our country in 1993.

Blue Flag beaches meet important criteria. Seawater analyses are carried out at 15-day intervals during the season. In addition, lifeguards ensuring the safety of beach users are kept on hand, water sports and the swimming area are separated, and an emergency plan, environmental management and modern mobility facilities for the disabled are provided. The criteria are renewed and developed in line with current developments. This year's main emphasis was the 'sustainability programme', and it was announced that the criteria will be renewed in this respect in the coming years.

ANNEX: 2018 list of Blue Flag-awarded beaches, marinas and yachts