The Valencian Community once again places itself in first position in terms of blue flags this year, adding 159 -six more than last year-, and adds to the list the beaches of Dels Torres (Vila Joiosa), Pobla Marina (Pobla de Fornals ) and Rabdels (Oliva). The Valencian coastline surpasses the Andalusian coast both in number of beaches (138 versus 130) and in kilometers of coastline with the distinction (145.40 kilometers by 132.33).
In addition, of the seven beaches where the flag has flown without interruption since the beginning of the program in 1987, six belong to municipalities of the Valencian Community: Alcalá de Xivert (El Carregador beach), Alicante (Sant Joan beach), Calpe (La Fossa beach ), El Campello (Carrer la Mar beach), Cullera (Sant Antoni beach) and Gandia (North beach); the seventh is the Coruña beach of Bastiagueiro, in Oleiros.
At the national level, the distinctive blue flag, which recognizes each year the best beaches for the good condition of the waters, the high level of beach services and the safety of bathers, will fly this summer on 638 beaches, which keeps Spain as world leader for the last 30 consecutive years.
The Environmental and Consumer Education Association (Adeac), promoter of the initiative, published this Tuesday the data for 2024, highlighting that Spain achieved a total of 18 more blue flags than last year: 638 for beaches (11 more than in 2023), 102 for marinas (5 more than in 2023) and 7 for tourist boats (2 more than in 2023).
The Valencian Community is followed by Andalusia with 156 (8 more than last year), Galicia with 125 (same as last year) and Catalonia with 118 (2 less than last year). Among the special mentions this year are the municipalities of Torrevieja (Alicante) and Xilxes (Castellón) along with Chiclana de la Frontera (Cádiz) for their excellent environmental education; and the lifeguard services of Teulada (Alicante), along with those of San Fernando (Cádiz), Málaga (Málaga).
