THREE BLUE FLAGS FOR NDLAMBE THIS SEASON –
NDLAMBE Municipality has been awarded three prestigious Blue Flags this season – two full status Blue Flags for Kelly’s Beach in Port Alfred and Kariega Main Beach in Kenton-on-Sea, and one Pilot Blue Flag status for Middle Beach in Kenton.
It is the 13th consecutive year that Kelly’s Beach has been awarded a Blue Flag, never once having lost it. Kariega Main Beach has also never lost its Blue Flag status in the nine years it has been awarded the flag.
Sixty-two Blue Flags will be proudly flown at 44 beaches, seven marinas and by 11 sustainable tourism boats during the forthcoming 2017/18 South African Blue Flag season, which opens officially on November 1 and runs until May.
The national Blue Flag launch was hosted by the Kouga Municipality at Dolphin Beach, Jeffreys Bay on October 4. Earlier this year all applications for the Blue Flag eco-label were reviewed through a rigorous multi-stage approval process involving both national and international assessments.
The Western Cape has achieved the highest number of Blue Flag sites, with 28 of the beaches, all 11 boats and six of the seven Blue Flag marinas falling in the province.
KZN again has nine Blue Flag beaches for the 2017/18 season. Seven beaches and one marina have been awarded the eco-label in the Eastern Cape, which is on par with the previous season.
An additional 22 beaches across the three provinces, will participate in the pilot programme. This is an important developmental stage for potential Blue Flag sites, during which the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (Wessa) works with beach managers and Tourism Blue Flag beach stewards towards the longer-term goal of achieving full Blue Flag status. Internationally, over 4400 beaches, boats and marinas currently hold Blue Flag status in 46 countries.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa said that the department was looking to attract five million tourists to South Africa over the next five years, and Blue Flag must be used as a selling tool to bring these visitors to our shores.
She said by entering into a partnership with Wessa last year to implement the Tourism Blue Flag project the department was utilising the Expanded Public Works Programme to ensure jobs were created for young people in tourism.
The annual Blue Flag Awards also celebrate the sustained partnerships that Wessa has built with key municipalities around the country, who have recognised the value of Blue Flag not just to environmental management and education, but also to tourism, economic development and job creation. Their commitment to the programme is evident in the fact that 25 beaches have been on the programme for five or more consecutive years, while 11 beaches have achieved Blue Flag status for more than 10 consecutive years.
Dolphin Beach, which provided the backdrop for the season launch, celebrates a remarkable 16 consecutive years on the programme this year. Humewood Beach in Port Elizabeth along with Grotto Beach in Hermanus has participated for all 17 years that the Blue Flag programme has been running locally.
Wessa ecotourism manager Vincent Shacks said: “Blue Flag is an excellent example of what is achievable when government, both local and national, partner with civil society. Not only does the programme encourage adherence to very high, international standards for beaches, boats and marinas but it has also created an excellent platform from which to develop young and enthusiastic, sustainable tourism ambassadors.”