The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPP) has announced the awarding of blue flags to coasts, marinas and tourist boats in Greece.

With 617 award-winning beaches, Greece has once again risen to number 2 in the world out of 52 countries.

For the first time, the number of awards exceeds 600, and in all 52 countries participating in the program, Greece owns 15% of the awarded coastlines. The International Committee has awarded 4212 beaches, 710 marinas and 120 tourist boats worldwide.

Halkidiki prefecture was the first in Greece with 94 blue flags. They are followed by Rhodes with 57 and Lassithi in Crete with 48. Chania has 38 Blue Flag beaches and Heraklion 33. In Attica, 18 beaches have been awarded.

Read more about the award-winning beaches and marinas here.

The announcement of the award-winning beaches, marinas and tourist boats of our country took place today in Georgioupolis Apokoronou Chania, on the coast of the Pilot Beach Resort, in two stages.

Conditions for the award

The Blue Flag has been awarded since 1987 to coasts and harbors that meet strict award criteria. A prerequisite for awarding the coast with the Blue Flag is that the water quality on it is characterized as “excellent”. The award is valid for one year.

In addition, the rest of the 33 criteria for coasts (38 for marinas and 51 for boats) must be met. concerning cleanliness, organization, information, safety of bathers and visitors, protection of coastal and coastal natural resources, and environmental awareness.

Bathing water quality control

Bathing water quality is monitored annually by the Water Resources Departments of the Decentralized Directorates and the General Secretariat for Environment and Water Resources of the Ministry of the Environment through control sampling conducted by laboratories accredited in the National Accreditation System (ESYD).