Crete has most blue flags in Greece
Crete is once again the island with the most Blue Flags in Greece, most of them awarded to beaches in Lassithi Prefecture, as in previous years.
Ninety seven ( 97) Blue Flags will be flown in Crete in 2007 (27 beaches in Chania prefecture, 17 beaches in Rethymnon prefecture, 14 beaches in Heraklion prefecture and 39 beaches in Lassithi prefecture). We had 94 in 2006 and 87 in 2005.
A total of 428 beaches and 9 marinas in Greece were awarded the “BLUE FLAGS 2007” quality award, according to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, country coordinator of the international Blue Flag programme, and Alpha Bank, which has funded the programme for the last seven years.
With 428 Blue Flag beaches compared to 411 last year, Greece is in second place among 49 countries. The International Committee awarded flags to a total of 2579 beaches and 629 marinas. Nine of the marinas are Greek, a significant improvement on previous years.
The “Blue Flag” programme is an international symbol of quality and perhaps the best-known environmental symbol in the world. Established in 1987, it awards the coveted Blue Flags to beaches and marinas complying with its strict regulations. It is not enough for the sea to be clean; there are 29 criteria related to cleanness, organisation, information, bather and visitor safety and protection of the beach and surrounding environment.
Major foreign travel agents take Blue Flags into account when suggesting holiday destinations to their customers, insisting on the quality of service provided and environmental protection. This is a fact known to all beach operators, hoteliers, campsites and municipalities.
The International Programme Coordinator is the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) based in Denmark, with 49 member countries worldwide.
Read more: Crete beach Guide