22 coasts were removed from the 2024 national and international listresulting in the loss of the International Environmental Education, Information and Awareness Program award “Blue Flag”.
This happened because either this year’s bathing season was not organized or it did not meet the Program’s strict criteria.
Why did they lose the “Blue Flag”
In accordance with the procedure of the Programme, the evaluators of the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and the international evaluators who carried out unannounced visits found deficiencies in the mandatory observance of the criteria specifically related to: provision of services to bathers and visitors (including people with disabilities), cleanliness, correct information, safety of bathers and visitors, correct environmental management as well as overlapping of free coastal space. The deadline for displaying the Blue Flag was July 1st. The members of the National Crisis Commission and the Coordinating Committee of the Programme decided, as expected, to withdraw the awards in order to preserve the prestige and credibility of the institution.
At the same time, inspection visits to all of the country’s award-winning coasts continue, most of which are carried out without prior notice. If deficiencies in compliance with the criteria are found on other coasts, further withdrawals will occur and will be announced in subsequent press releases.
We would like to point out that the withdrawals to the aforementioned coasts are due to poor organization and that the quality of the bathing waters remains, according to the Program’s standards, excellent.
The beaches
The 22 removed coasts are as follows:
- Akti Schoinias Karavi, Municipality of Marathona, PE Attica
- Coast 1 Limanaki Daskaleio Kerateas/Solo Pino, Municipality of Lavreotiki, PE Attica
- Akti Psaltos/Mitsis Lindos Memories Resort, Rhodes Municipality, PE
- Akti Kallithea, Municipality of Rhodes, PE
- Akti Mikros Gialos, Municipality of Rhodes, PE
- Akti Amnisos/Pnoe Breathing Life, Municipality of Hersonissos, PE Heraklion
- Akti Ermones, Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontian Islands, PE Corfu
- Akti Ag. Gordios/La Grotta Verde, Municipality of Central Corfu and Diapontian Islands, PE Corfu
- Akti Mylos Ormou Korthiou, Andros Municipality, PE Andros
- Akti Provatas, Municipality of Milos, PE Apple
- Akti Kalafatis/Aphrodite Beach Resort, Mykonos Municipality, PE Mykonos
- Akti Agia Anna/Maragas, Naxos Municipality, PE Naxos
- Akti Agios Georgios, Naxos Municipality, PE Naxos
- Akti Agios Prokopios, Municipality of Naxos, PE Naxos
- Akti Ag. Fokas/Marathia, Municipality of Tinos, PE Tinos
- Akti Ierapetra 1/Dimotiki, Municipality of Ierapetra, PE
- Akti Koinotiki Plaz Makrygialou, Ierapetra Municipality, PE Lasithi
- Akti Myrtos, Municipality of Ierapetra, PE Lasithi
- Akti Mega Ammos (Rocha), Municipality of Preveza, PE
- Akti Koutloumousiou, Municipality of Sithonia, PE
- 2 Akti Nea Roda, Municipality of Aristoteli, PE Halkidiki
- Akti Ouranoupolis 1/Xenia Ouranoupolis, Municipality of Aristoteli, PE