What is Blue Flag certification?

• The Blue Flag programme is operated under the auspices of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. 
• It is an eco-tourism model to provide tourists clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area. 
• They, by certification, try to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by their mission to:

1. promote and participate in environmental education programmes for the users of beaches, marinas and boating operators.
2. Implement sound safety and environmental management systems.
3. Monitor environmental conditions to reduce the impact of human activity at the beaches, marinas and boating operators.
4. Commit to partnerships and collaborative action to promote the sustainable development of tourism.

• Forty-seven countries currently participate in the program, and 4,573 beaches, marinas, and boats have this certification.

Criteria of selection

• Based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads, the certification is provided. The 4 major themes are: 

1. Environmental education and information, 
2. Bathing water quality, 
3. Environment management and conservation 
4. Safety and services in the beaches.

Why in the news?

• Eight beaches in India have been awarded the coveted ‘Blue Flag’ certification.
• The beaches selected for the certification are: Kappad (Kerala), Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Ghoghla (Diu), Kasarkod and Padubidri (Karnataka), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Golden (Odisha) and Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands).
• This will boost the tourism benefiting the local industries and people and also will help in creating awareness about sustainability.

Reference:

1. https://www.blueflag.global/our-structure