Blue Flag beach

The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE)[1] that a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards.

The Blue Flag is sought for beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators as an indication of their high environmental and quality standards.

[5] The table below lists the Blue Flags (for beaches, marinas, and boats) awarded and in force in 2015.

[6] Costa Rica Panama The Blue Flag was created in France in 1985, as a pilot scheme from the Office of the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe (Office français de la Fondation pour l'Education à l'Environnement en Europe) where French coastal municipalities were awarded the Blue Flag on the basis of criteria covering sewage treatment and bathing water quality.

South Africa, Canada, Morocco, Tunisia, New Zealand and four countries in the Caribbean region are members of FEE.

[2] There are 44 countries participating in the Blue Flag Program, along with two US territories: Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Ukraine and US Virgin Islands.

Microbiological test as evidence for bacterial free The criteria presented above apply to all tour operators that want to be awarded the Blue Flag.