With 617 beaches, 18 marinas and 6 touristic boats Greece won the “Blue Flag 2023” international quality award and ranked 2nd for second consecutive year worldwide, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPP), Greece’s operator of the Blue Flag international program, announced late on Wednesday.
With 617 award-winning beaches, Greece once again ranks 2nd among 52 countries worldwide.
Greece was placed second among 53 countries worldwide – Halkidiki is the champion with 94 Blue Flags – 18 in Attica
The awards for coasts, marinas and tourist boats were announced by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPPF), National Operator of the “blue flag” International Program in our country.
It is worth noting that, for the first time, the beaches awards exceed 600, and that of the total of 52 countries participating in the program, Greece owns 15% of the award-winning beaches.
The prefecture of Halkidiki emerged first in Greece, with 94 flags, while Attica has 18.
The International Committee awarded 4,212 beaches, 710 marinas and 120 tourist boats around the world.
In 2022, Greece again ranked 2nd worldwide with 581 awarded beaches, 15 marinas and 6 touristic boats.
The “blue flag” is the most recognizable and internationally widespread ecological quality symbol in the world. It has been awarded since 1987, to beaches and marinas that meet the strict award conditions.
A necessary condition for awarding a coast with the “blue flag” is that its water quality is “Excellent”. No other quality rating, even “Good”, is accepted by the Program. The award lasts for one year.
In addition, the rest of the total 33 criteria for the coasts (38 for marinas and 51 for boats) must also be observed, which concern cleanliness, organization, information, safety of bathers and visitors, protection of the natural wealth of the coast and coastline space and environmental awareness.
Note that a “Blue Flag” can be withdrawn if quality checks during the year find violations and lower service quality than in the time the award was given.
List of awarded Greek beaches, marinas and boats 2023 (english)
Some of them are on Crete