13 Beaches in Greece lose Blue Flag awards

Thirteen Greek beaches have lost their Blue Flags, which were awarded by the International Blue Flag Environmental Education, Information and Awareness Program 2023.

These flags were removed due to the beaches not meeting the criteria set by the Program. Greece, with a total of 617 Blue Flag awards in May 2023, ranked second worldwide.

Under the Program’s procedure, beach managers are required to organize the shores in a timely manner and provide corresponding evidence. The deadline for displaying the Blue Flag was July 1st. However, the necessary actions to meet the criteria, such as providing services to bathers and visitors, including disabled individuals, maintaining cleanliness, offering correct information, and ensuring the safety of bathers and visitors, have not been taken on the mentioned coasts.

In order to preserve the prestige and credibility of the institution, the National Crisis Committee and the Program Coordinating Committee decided to withdraw the awards, as expected. Additionally, inspection visits by evaluators from the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and international evaluators have commenced on all the award-winning coasts of the country. These visits mostly occur without prior notice. If any deficiencies in compliance with the criteria are found on other coasts, further withdrawals will follow.

The withdrawal of the Blue Flags from these beaches is due to organizational issues, while the quality of the swimming waters remains excellent, according to the Program’s standards.

The following are the 13 beaches that have lost their Blue Flag, as listed by the “Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature”:

• Akti Plaka, Municipality of Nafplion, Argolis Province
• Tourkopodaro Beach/White Rocks Hotel, Argostoli Municipality, Kefalonia
• Akti Skoutari, East Mani Municipality, P.E. Laconia
• Akti Gythio 2/Selinitsa, Municipality of Eastern Mani, P.E. Laconia
• Akti Stomio, Municipality of Agia, P.E. Larissa
• Akti Ponti, Municipality of Lefkada, P.E. Lefkada
• Akti Tsampika, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. of Rhodes
• Akti Tsambika Symiaki, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. of Rhodes
• Akti Aquarium 1-Agalma Diagoras, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. of Rhodes
• Akti Enhydrio 2-Grand Hotel, Municipality of Rhodes, P.E. of Rhodes