6 Plett beaches fly Blue Flags
Despite being a small coastal holiday destination, Plettenberg Bay once again dominated the annual Blue Flag awards.
Plett was awarded Blue Flag status for six of its beaches, which means that the town has the second-most Blue Flag beaches in the Western Cape, just behind Cape Town which managed to secure 10 sites. It also means that Plett has the thirdhighest number of beaches with this prestigious title in the country, close on the heels of the Ray Nkonyeni Municipality in Kwazulu-Natal which was awarded seven sites for the second place.
Plettenberg Bay outshone many other major coastal centres including Nelson Mandela Bay which only managed three Blue Flag sites.
Plett’s Blue Flag beaches this year include, for the 10th consecutive time, Robberg 5; Keurboomsstrand – which managed to secure this accreditation for the eighth year; Natures’ Valley for a seventh year; Lookout Beach for a fifth time; The Dunes for a third year; and The Singing Kettle beach for a second consecutive year.
Local operator Offshore Adventures added to the awards after both their vessels, the Robberg Express and Oceanic Express, received Blue Flag accreditation.
The International Blue Flag jury meeting took place earlier in September this year and awards were presented to 137 sites in the Southern Hemisphere for the 2018/19 Blue Flag season, including 96 beaches, 19 marinas and 22 boats. As of 2018, the Blue Flag flies over 3 783 beaches, 698 marinas and 77 boats around the world. 66 Blue Flags in SA
In South Africa, 66 Blue Flags will be proudly flown at 46 beaches, eight marinas and by 12 sustainable tourism boats. This was announced at the National Wessa Blue Flag launch in Mossel Bay on 12 October.
“These are important accolades which fall in line with our current tourism strategy," says Plet Tourism spokesperson Patty Butterworth. "We are very proud of all the key role players involved with our beaches including our Bitou municipal beach development team, our marine activities and our conservation entities who are all committed to our shorelines and who understand the key role that tourism plays in our community.”
Blue Flag is the prestigious, voluntary eco-label for beaches, boats and marinas that is recognised as a trusted symbol of quality and is regarded by the World Tourism Organisation as the most well-known global eco-label.
The Blue Flag programme, which has been running internationally since 1987, is focused on the conservation of marine and coastal habitats, and is designed to raise environmental education and awareness, and increase sound environmental practices among tourists, local populations and beach management. To achieve Blue Flag status, as many as 33 different criteria, which includes water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety and services. The criteria are set by the international coordinators of the Blue Flag campaign in Europe, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Each Blue Flag site is compelled to conduct several environmental education activities during the year, and to practise effective and efficient conservation management.