Clean sea is rising Blue flags - Corriere della Sera

Even localities pass from 131 last year to 135

Clean sea is rising blue flags

248 Italian beaches are reported for 2013

Into A beach with a Blue Flag

Increase the blue flags in the Italian places that can boast the quality seal of the Foundation for Environmental Education (Fee) Italy. In 2013, in fact, go up to 248 (+2) reported for the beaches and the water quality of services offered to tourists. Also grow the resort, which rose from 131 to 135. Higher the number of confirmations (86%) compared to 2012 and also good performance for marinas, rising to 62 (61 in 2012) to demonstrate that a significant number of marinas has undertaken sustainability choices by ensuring the quality and quantity the services provided in the full environmental compatibility.

NEW ENTRIES – There are nine new entries: Francavilla al Mare (Abruzzo), and Pedaso Fermo (Marche), Campomarino (Molise), Tortoli (Sardinia), Carrara ( Tuscany), Framura and San Lorenzo al Mare (Liguria), the lakeside town of Levico Terme (Trentino).

ELIMINATION – Five instead eliminated the beaches: Marina di Gioiosa Jonica, Amendolara and Cariati (Calabria), the lakeside town of Scanno (Abruzzo), and Pozzallo (Sicily).

CLASSIFICATION – The most cited is the Liguria region with 20 (+2) locations. With 18 beaches follow the Marche (+2), Tuscany with 17 (+1). Abruzzo maintains 14 locations, 13 Campania, Apulia, Emilia Romagna ten 8, Lazio five as in 2012. Sardinia increases by a location and rooms to seven, no news of Veneto with six Blue Flags, while Molise earn recognition by receiving the three. Sicily comes down to four, losing one location while Calabria is halved to three. Friuli Venezia Giulia and Piedmont confirm the two blue flags of last year, Basilicata and Lombardy confirm a single banner.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM – “Even in 2013 we see an increase in satisfaction with blue flags, which demonstrates the continued commitment of the locations in a path to full sustainability,” he said Claudio Mazza, president of Fee Italy, on the occasion of the presentation noting that “sustainable tourism is now an obvious choice for anyone who has the responsibility to administer the territory and work for its development.” The Blue Flag reinforces the image of the municipality that receives it, as is clear from a study conducted by the Universities of Urbino and Perugia, whose first results were presented at the Conference for the ceremony to award the Blue Flag 2013.

INDICATORS – Fundamental indicators taken into account in order to assign the Blue flags: only water ‘excellent’ (according to more restrictive rules than those provided for by national legislation); regular sampling water made during the summer season. Only after these two conditions can be accessed at subsequent evaluations: efficiency of wastewater treatment and sewerage connected to at least 80% of the entire municipality, recycling, proper management of hazardous waste, large pedestrian areas, cycle paths , urban nice, green areas, beaches equipped with all the facilities and personnel rescue, accessibility for all (removal of architectural barriers), large space dedicated to environmental education courses, aimed in particular at schools and young people, to tourists and residents; dissemination of information on Blue Flag, the publication of data on bathing water; hotel facilities, services of public health utility, tourist info rmation, updated signage, environmental certification and / or procedures of the institutional activities and structures Tourist on the municipal territory; presence of fishing activities well integrated into the seaside town.