Greece ranked second place in the world on the 2017 Blue Flag quality award list for beaches and marinas, among 47 countries, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF) announced earlier this week. 486 beaches across the country received the 2017 Blue Flag beaches award.
Spain came in first place.
The “Blue Flag” is a voluntary eco-label awarded to beaches across the world and is run by the independent, non-profit organization Foundation for Environmental Education based in Copenhagen. The EEPF is the program’s coordinator for Greece.
A total of 486 beaches and 12 marinas were honored with the quality “Blue Flag” award in Greece for 2017. Last year 430 Greek beaches and nine marinas were honored.
Once again the Halkidiki peninsula was crowned the destination with most flags in Greece as 71 of its beaches were honored.
On a worldwide scale the foundation awarded the international eco-label (blue flags) to 3,574 beaches, 662 marinas and 50 sustainable tourism boats for 2014.
According to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, 25 percent of the newly honored winning beaches are in Greece.
The Blue Flag is awarded to beaches that follow requirements that include Environmental Education and Information, Water Quality, Environmental Management and Safety and Services.
This year, which has been named the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development by the UNWTO, the Blue Flag celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Indicative form the Complete List
ATTIKI [16]
Marathonas Municipality
Schinias/Karavi
Markopoulo Mesogeas Municipality
Avlaki
Saronikos Municipality
Mavro Lithari/Eden Beach
Lagonissi 1-Grand Beach/Grand Resort Lagonissi
Lagonissi 2-Mediterraneo/Grand Resort Lagonissi
Lagonissi 3-Kochylia/Grand Resort Lagonissi
Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni Municipality
Varkiza
Asteras Vouliagmenis/Astir Beach Vouliagmenis
Vouliagmeni
Voula A
Glyfada Municipality
Glyfada
Spata-Artemida Municipality
Limni
Aigina Municipality
Agia Marina
Poros Municipality
Askeli/Nea Egli
Kythira Municipality
Kakia Lagada
Kapsali
CORFU/KERKYRA [10]
Kerkyra Municipality
Kommeno/Corfu Imperial
Kontokali/Kontokali Bay Resort
Alykes Potamou/Family Life Kerkyra Golf
Almyros/Gelina Village
Canal d’ Amour
Dafnila/Grecotel Daphnila Bay Thalasso
Agios Ioannis Peristeron/Marbella Corfu
Kontogialos/Mayor Pelekas Monastery
Kavos/Mayor Capo di Corfu
Issos/Sandy Beach Resor
LEFKADA [8]
Lefkada Municipality
Agios Giannis
Lefkada/Gyra
Agios Nikitas-Pefkoulia
Kathisma 1
Porto Katsiki
Nydri
Mikros Gialos/Poros
Ponti
For the complete list of all 486 Greek “blue flag” beaches, press here (in GR and EN).
