Data Shows Spain Still World Leader in
Top Quality Beaches
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Beaches is Spain and the Costa Del Sol continue to be
clean and will awards
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Spain can keep its reputation as being the country with the
best, cleanest, and safest beaches in the world thanks to its impressive 579
blue flag beaches.
The Association for Environmental Education and the Consumer
(ADEAC), the body in charge of designating blue-flag beaches, has kept Spain as
the top of the charts for another year in a row; a streak that has existed
since way back in 1987.
Being designated a blue-flag beach means meeting some
stringent criteria. The ADEAC assess the hygiene, safety, sanitary conditions
of a beach, along with the accessibility and provisions of lifeguards. While
the number of blue-flag beaches in Spain has dropped by 7 since 2016, it still
proved itself to be the best in the world for safe bathing.
In terms of individual regions, Valencia is home to the most
blue-flag beaches – with 129 – while Galicia to the northwest has 113,
Catalonia has 95, and Andalucía – where the Costa del Sol can be found – has 90
blue-flag beaches.
The Murcia region, which sits not far from the Costa del
Sol, lost 16 blue flag beaches compared to last year; the largest drop
nationally.
Greece boasts the second-highest number of blue flag beaches
after Spain, followed by France, Turkey, Italy, and Portugal.
Spain became the top of the charts thanks to its marinas,
which boast an impressive 100 blue flags collectively. With another five blue
flags for cruise ship ports, Spain is home to 684 blue flags in all – the
largest number for a single country.
