The first Blue Flag in Montenegro for the year 2023 was ceremoniously raised today on Ocean and Sea Day at the "Bella Vista" beach in Vičići by Blažo Rađenović, President of the Board of Directors of the Public Enterprise for the Management of Marine Assets
As he said, this exclusive world eco-label will be displayed this summer on a total of 40 Montenegrin beaches from Ulcinj to Herceg Novi, of which 20 bathing areas are in Budva, and one marina also received the Blue Flag.
"The very fact that we have 40 bathing spots that meet the criteria of the Blue Flag speaks volumes for the fact that we have a quality offer, high-category bathing spots," emphasized Rađenović and thanked his colleagues from the Maritime Dobr, as well as the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism.
The assistant director of JP "Morsko dobro" Iva Franeta said that symbolically on Ocean and Sea Day, the public company in cooperation with the NGO "Ecom" annually awards international recognition to swimming pools and marinas.
"This makes official the start of a successful tourist season. All 40 beach users and one marina user who received the Blue Flag had to fulfill 32 prescribed criteria, of which 28 are mandatory. Hereby, Montenegro sends a clear message that we respect the ecological standard and that we are recognized on all world tourist maps," Franeta said.
For 36 years, the program has been promoting high standards in four areas: seawater quality, services and safety on beaches, standards in the field of environmental protection, as well as education and information about ecological values.
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.
Director of the NGO "EKOM" Saša Karajović said that after 20 years we are again in the municipality of Budva, when in 2003
The pilot phase has started at the Mogren swimming pool
"From then until today, we have come a long way and I hope that this 19th season of the Blue Flag will be a great introduction to the next, jubilee 20th season. We received an announcement that in the first half of July we will have international control, which means that we will be checked and verified by international controllers in some way. I hope that we will justify the trust of the International Jury when it approved all 40 beaches and one marina", he said.
The tenant of Bella Vista" Dragan Medić is convinced that this beach will justify the trust that has been shown to them.
Ten Montenegrin beaches are in the pilot phase 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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