Turkey once again ranked third in the world after Spain and Greece in the number of beaches awarded the “Blue Flag” for the year 2024.
The Blue Flag is a certificate awarded by the International Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based in Copenhagen, for environmentally safe beaches.
According to the institution’s 2024 assessment, the number of Turkish beaches entitled to raise the blue flag reached 567 beaches.
The state of Antalya, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, is at the forefront of Turkish states in terms of the number of beaches awarded the “Blue Flag” with 233, followed by the neighboring state of Mugla, which overlooks the Aegean Sea, with 112 beaches, and Izmir with 64 beaches.
In 1994, Turkey had 6 beaches awarded the “Blue Flag,” and their number increased over time to reach 519 in 2021, 531 in 2022, and 551 in 2023.
The Blue Flag is awarded according to 32 special standards, such as the quality and cleanliness of marine waters, activities aimed at environmental awareness, care for environmental management, and the quality of services provided, in addition to the security provided in tourist areas.
