The Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced that 551 beaches, 23 marinas, 14 tourism boats and 10 individual yachts have been awarded the Blue Flag in Turkey.
In Turkey, 551 beaches, 23 marinas, 14 tourism boats and 10 individual yachts were awarded the Blue Flag.
According to the statement made by the Ministry, the International Blue Flag jury announced the 2023 Blue Flag awards. This year, the Blue Flag will fly on 551 beaches, 23 marinas, 14 tourism boats and 10 individual yachts in Turkey.
In the Blue Flag ranking announced by the International Environmental Education Foundation-FEE, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Turkey has again ranked third in the world with the number of beaches.
Spain took the first place in the ranking, and Greece took the second place. Turkey, in the third place, was followed by Italy and France.
The Blue Flag is applied in 50 countries around the world.
The Blue Flag Program in Turkey was initiated when the European Union declared 1987 as the year of the environment. The program, which was started with the aim of protecting public health, environmental education and awareness-raising activities, was put into practice in Turkey in 1993.
As part of the program, Blue Bayraklı beaches 33, marinas 38, tourist boats 51 and individual yachts include 4 criteria and 16 codes of conduct. Some of the mandatory criteria are swimming water analysis at the beaches every 15 days during the season, the suitability of waste water treatment plants, the protection of sensitive natural areas, the availability of lifeguards and first aid materials, the emergency plan, the facilities for the disabled, the separation of wastes, environmental education and information. Corporate social responsibility and public participation and education are also among the expected criteria for marinas and tourism boats.
The Blue Flag Program, carried out under the coordination of the Turkish Environmental Education Foundation (TÜRÇEV), is being implemented in 50 countries in the world under the coordination of the International Environmental Education Foundation-FEE.
Number of Blue Flags by 2023 provinces
BEACHES MARINATURISM BOATS INDIVIDUAL YACHT
1 Antalya 231 5 14 –
2 Muğla 110 7 – 4
3 Izmir 63 4 – –
4 Balikesir 46 1 – 6
5 Aydın 35 2 – –
6 Samsun 13 – – –
7 Çanakkale 12 – – –
8 Mersin 11 1 – –
9 Kocaeli 9 – – –
10 Tekirdag 6 – – –
11 Bartin 3 – – –
12 Kırklareli 1 – – –
13 Army 2 – – –
14 Bursa 2 – – –
15 Zonguldak 2 – – –
16 Istanbul 1 2 – –
17 Sakarya 1 – – –
18 Duzce 1 – – –
19 Van 1 – – –
20 Edirne 1 – – –
21 Yalova – 1 – –
TOTAL 551 23 14 10