Blue flag beaches rise for third year running

THIRTY-nine beaches in Cyprus have received the ‘Blue Flag’ environmental award, a Cyprus Tourist Organisation (CTO) officer confirmed yesterday.
The awards were presented in Oroklini by the co-ordinator of the awards’ international jury, Fin Bolding Tomsen.
Cyprus won 39 Blue Flags, and was one of 24 countries in Europe and Africa to receive some of the 2,900 awards handed out by the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE) this year.
Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, CTO officer Maro Kazepi said the Blue Flag scheme has been a success.
“We did very well. The international jury co-ordinator, Mr. Tomsen visited us for the first time, and his comments were very positive.”
She stressed that since the CTO and the Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA) initiated the introduction of the scheme to Cyprus in 1995, the number of award winning beaches on the island had increased steadily.
“In 1996, we had 11 Blue Flags, in 2000 we had 29 and this year we have 39,” she said.
The awards –which were launched in 1987, the European Year for the Environment — are given to beaches and marinas which fulfil specific criteria regarding the quality of bathing water, beach area management, safety and environmental education and information.
Kazepi noted the awards were valid for one year, with municipalities and local councils applying for awards every year.
“The Blue Flag awards provide an incentive for local authorities to maintain beaches and upgrade their quality every year.”
The awards also contribute to the promotion of Cypriot beaches abroad.
“It’s very important — some tour operators ask for the blue flag specifically. It’s a symbol of quality,” she said. “Even more beaches could win awards if all the municipalities applied,” she added.

The 39 Blue Flag beaches are:
Pernera, Vryssi, Protaras in Paralimni; Kermia, Ammos tou Kambouri, Glyki Nero, Pantachou, Katsarka, Vathia Gonia, Nissi, Nissi Bay, Lanta, Makronissos and Ayia Thekla in Ayia Napa; Giannathes in Voroklini; Phinikoudes and Mckenzie in Larnaca; Kalymnos Beach at Pentakomo; Panagies/Aoratoi at Pyrgos; Santa Barbara, Loures, Vouppa, Aphrodite, Onisilos, Armonia and Castella at Ayios Tychonas; Pissouri beach at Pissouri; Municipal Beach at Yeroskipou; Pachyammos, Vrysoudia A and B, Alykes, Municipal Baths and Pharos in Paphos; Coral Beach, Laourou at Pegeia and the Municipal and Dasoudi beaches at Polis Chysochous.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.