Six beaches on the island of Rhodes that were awarded by the International “Blue Flag” Program, were withdrawn from the 2024 national and international list and lost their award, because they either did not organize this year’s swimming season, or did not meet the strict criteria of the Program, as it was found from the evaluations so far.
During the Program process, after the unannounced visits to the coasts by the volunteer-assessors of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and following the communication of the Program Secretariat with the competent managers of the coasts, deficiencies were found in the enforced observance of the criteria that specifically related to:
- provision services to bathers and visitors (including the disabled)
- cleanliness
- proper information
- safety of bathers and visitors
- proper environmental management
- actions to protect the coastal environment and coastal space
- as well as covering free coastal space.
The deadline for posting the Blue Flag was 1 July.
The members of the National Crisis Committee and the Program Coordinating Committee decided, as expected, to withdraw the awards in order to preserve the prestige and credibility of the institution.
According to the terms of the “Blue Flag” Program, the above coasts cannot be nominated for an award the following year. The period for the Program officially ends on October 31st. Coast managers may expire their award coast earlier than 31 October (but not earlier than 15 September) and must notify the Program Secretariat accordingly.
At the end of the period and in accordance with the Program procedure, the Blue Flag should be submitted from the web, all forms should be removed from the Notice Board and only recent results should be placed on it
of swimming waters and the “Expiration of Period” poster.
It is pointed out that the withdrawal of the beaches is due to poor organization and that the quality of the bathing waters remains, according to the standards of the Program, excellent.
According to local newspaper rodiaki.gr, the 6 beaches, which saw the Blue Flags being removed are:
- Akti Theologos, Municipality of Rhodes
- Akti Kiotari Angeliena 1, Municipality of Rhodes
- Akti Ladiko, Municipality of Rhodes
- Faliraki Coast Limanaki, Municipality of Rhodes
- Akti Reni, Municipality of Rhodes
- Akti Anthony Quinn, Municipality of Rhodes
Another 22 beaches across Greece saw their Blue Flags fly away end of July 2024.
