The Blue Flag is the most recognised beach award in the world, and it is not handed out for scenery. Run by the Foundation for Environmental Education, it assesses water quality, lifeguard provision and safety equipment, accessibility, waste management and environmental education, and it has to be re-earned every single season.
That last detail is what makes the annual announcement interesting. A flag is a one-year licence, not a permanent title, and every year a number of beaches fail to renew. This season the International Committee awarded flags to 4,378 beaches, 747 marinas and 158 tourist boats worldwide.
Here is how the major beach nations performed, followed by the places that lost their flags and the reasons why.
#1. Spain: 794 awards, a national record
Spain finished first globally and set its own historic high in the process, taking 794 awards in total, of which 677 went to organised beaches. That is an increase of 44 on the previous season.
The strongest regions were Valencia, Andalusia and Galicia. Galicia’s presence near the top surprises people who picture Spanish beaches as Mediterranean, because its coastline faces the Atlantic and its water is considerably colder. What it has in abundance is water quality, driven by strong currents and far lower bathing density.
Spain has now led the global table for decades without serious challenge, and the margin over second place remains substantial. For travellers, the practical consequence is that almost anywhere on the Spanish coast, a certified beach is within easy reach.