Blue Flag is an international annual award which focuses on the environmental management of our coastline and coastal waters to help tourism growth and development.

Although it’s a voluntary eco-label, it’s become an international symbol of quality for beaches, boats and marinas that meet a standard of excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness, environmental information and environmental management.

Speaking at an announcement ceremony on Wednesday, Minister of Tourism, Tokozile Xasa applauded the 44 beaches that have obtained full Blue Flag status along with 11 sustainable boats and seven marinas.

“We are re-awarding Blue Flag status to some of the beaches that lost their blue flag status in the 2016/17 season.  I would like to attribute this achievement to the Department’s Blue Flag Beach Steward project which place young people on these beaches to maintain their Blue Flag standards,” said Xasa.

“The coastal and marine tourism sector will contribute about R21.4 billion to the GDP and create about 116,000 direct jobs by 2026, thus reducing poverty, inequality and unemployment, while contributing to sustainable livelihoods and development.

These estimates are conservative as they are growing from a low 2015 base of R11.9 billion direct contribution to GDP and 64,400 direct jobs.”

28 beaches were awarded the title in the Western Cape‚ followed by nine in KwaZulu-Natal and seven in the Eastern Cape. A further 22 beaches were named as “pilot sites”, indicating that they were currently working towards full accreditation.

Only Humewood Beach in Port Elizabeth and Grotto Beach in Hermanus have retained a place on the list since it first started in 2000.

Blue Flag Beaches in South Africa

Western Cape

KwaZulu-Natal

Eastern Cape