What is a Blue Flag Beach?
Rachel Carson, the environmentalist said “In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand, there is the story of the earth.”
The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) a not-for-profit non-governmental organization, aims to make these stories sustainable and preserved for future generations. In their mission, they have appointed awards to the member countries, of which there are sixty, Mexico among them. The FEE criteria include standards for quality, safety, environmental education and information, the provision of services and general environmental management. The Blue Flag is a trademark. These awards/certifications are issued on an annual basis.
There are beaches in Puerto Vallarta that have been given these awards, which is a good sign for our coastal area. Once a beach has been certified, it must continue to maintain this status, which is done by water testing. The Blue Flag certified beaches in Puerto Vallarta are Palmares, Camerones, Playa del Oro, Amapas, Conchas Chinas I and II, Garza Blanca and the Sheraton Beach.
There is no doubt that these awards, as they are called, are extremely important to tourism in Puerto Vallarta. At any given time, Puerto Vallarta can be noted as having the most number of certifications in all of Mexico. It’s the duty of the Hotel Association and Motels (AHyM) to pay due diligence as these FEE reports are obtained by travel magazines, agencies, and world news centers. They must work hand in hand with the municipal government, private sector, plus state and federal administrations for the certifications and further testing.
What’s good for beachgoers is good for the environment, which is where the bottom line is. If we don’t keep the sustainability of the water surrounding us, we will not have the stories to tell of which Rachel Carson spoke.
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