The Greek beaches that have been honored with the 2014 Blue Flag quality award, were announced on 7 May by the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.

According to the announcement, Greece once again ranked second place on the Blue Flag quality award list, this year among 51 countries. Spain was in first place.

In total, 408 beaches and 10 marinas in Greece have been recognized for their excellent seawater quality, litter management, organization of the swimming area, safety procedures for bathers and protection of the environment, among other factors. Last year, 393 beaches and nine marinas were honored with the quality “Blue Flag” award in Greece.

The “Blue Flag” is a voluntary eco-label awarded to the cleanest and best managed beaches across the world and is run by the independent, non-profit organization Foundation for Environmental Education (based in Copenhagen). The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature is the program’s coordinator for Greece.

According to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature, international travel agencies abroad pay special attention to blue flag beaches when destinations are chosen for their clients.

Last year, the Greek Tourism Ministry signed a cooperation protocol with the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature to increase the number of Greek Blue Flag beaches and improve the level of services offered there.