Bitou News Volume 15 Edition 48 – 10 Friday 2017

SIX BLUE FLAG BEACHES AND TWO BLUE FLAG BOATS FOR PLETT

The announcement of the 2017 International Blue Flag results revealed that a total of 44 South African beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status this year, along with seven marinas and eleven sustainable tourism boats.

The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag sites, with 28 of the beaches, all eleven boats and six of the seven Blue Flag marinas falling in the province.

Plettenberg Bay has received Blue Flag status for six beaches during the 2017/18 season. This includes Robberg 5 (9th year), Keurboomstrand (7th year), Nature’s Valley (6th year), Lookout (4th year), The Dunes (2nd year) and the newest to join Blue Flag status is The Singing Kettle beach.

Offshore Adventures has added to Plett’s outstanding marine experiences with both of their boats, Robberg Express and Oceanic Express, receiving Blue Flag status for the year.

Applications for the prestigious Blue Flag eco-label were reviewed earlier this year and put through a rigorous approval process involving both national and international assessments. The announcement of the 2016 International Blue Flag results revealed that a total of 44 South African beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status this year, along with seven marinas and eleven sustainable tourism boats.

The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag sites, with 28 of the beaches, all eleven boats and six of the seven Blue Flag marinas falling in the province.

Plettenberg Bay has received Blue Flag status for six beaches during the 2017/18 season. This includes Robberg 5 (9th year), Keurboomstrand (7thyear), Nature’s Valley (6th year), Lookout (4rd year), The Dunes (2nd year) and the newest to join Blue Flag status is The Singing Kettle beach.
offshore-adventures-boat

Offshore Adventures has received Blue Flag status

Offshore Adventures has added to Plett’s outstanding marine experiences with both of their boats, Robberg Express and Oceanic Express, receiving Blue Flag status for the year.

“We are honored to have another beach awarded Blue Flag Status for 2017/2018 and to receive the same accolade for two of Offshore Adventure’s boats. The beaches and water-based activities are two very important components of our tourism strategy.

The addition of these awards are testament that all role-players involved with beach development and marine activities are committed and understand the key role that tourism plays in our community,” says Plett Tourism Media Manager Patty Butterworth.

Blue Flag is the prestigious, voluntary eco-label for beaches, boats and marinas that is recognised as a trusted symbol of quality and is regarded by the World Tourism Organisation as the most well-known global eco-label.

The Blue Flag Programme, which has been running internationally since 1987, is focused on the conservation of marine and coastal habitats, and is designed to raise environmental education and awareness, and increase sound environmental practices among tourists, local populations and beach management. To achieve Blue Flag status, as many as 33 different criteria spanning over four aspects of coastal management have to be met: water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services.

The criteria are asset by the international coordinators of the Blue Flag campaign in Europe, the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education). Each Blue Flag site is compelled to conduct several environmental education activities during the year, and to practice effective and efficient conservation management. The detailed criteria and award process is available on Blue Flag’s international website www.blueflag.global. – THE GREMLIN

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *