The first Blue Flag in Montenegro for the year 2023 will be symbolically raised on Ocean and Sea Day on Thursday, June 8, at the swimming pool "Bella Vista" on Bečić beach at 10.30:XNUMX a.m.
"On that occasion, all the winners of this exclusive world eco-mark in our country in its 36th year of existence will be announced," announced the Public Enterprise for the Management of Marine Assets.
The first Blue Flag for the year 2023 will be raised by the president of the Board of Directors of the Public Enterprise for the Management of the Maritime Assets of Montenegro, Blažo Rađenović, and in addition to the representatives of the Public Enterprise for the Management of the Maritime Assets of Montenegro, the director of the NGO "EKOM" Saša Karajović will address the audience.
"The international award "Blue Flag" is an exclusive environmental mark that is awarded annually to beaches and marinas whose users wish to join this program, and which meet 32 prescribed criteria, of which 28 are mandatory, while the rest are recommended.
For 36 years, the program has been promoting high standards in four areas: seawater quality, services and safety on the beaches, standards in the field of environmental protection, as well as education and information about ecological values," the company points out.
In Montenegro, this recognition has been awarded since 2003, when the non-governmental organization "ECOM" became a member of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and thereby acquired the right to be the national operator for managing the Blue Flag Program in Montenegro.
From the very beginning, the Public Enterprise for the Management of the Maritime Assets of Montenegro provided organizational and financial support for the implementation of this Program.
The Blue Flag is awarded to a swimming pool or marina for the current season, based on the previous results and the decision of the International Jury, which this year consisted of representatives of UNEP (UN Environmental Protection Programme), UNWTO (World Tourism Organization), UNESCO (UN Program for Education, Science and Culture) EEA (European Environmental Protection Agency), WCA (World Cetacean Alliance), EUCC (European Union for the Protection of Coasts and Seas), ICOMIA (International Council of Marine Associations), ENAT (European Network for Accessible Tourism ), ILS (International Rescue Federation) and FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education), which implements the Blue Flag Program.
The international jury considers the candidacies submitted by the National Commission, which is formed in Montenegro by the ministry responsible for tourism affairs, and which consists of representatives of the Public Enterprise for the Management of Marine Assets, the ministries responsible for tourism, environmental protection, maritime affairs, the Red Cross of Montenegro and three representatives of the non-governmental sector.
This summer, there will be a total of 40 beaches, marinas and tourist ships with the Blue Flag in 4.845 countries of the Northern Hemisphere.
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