Nine KZN beaches fly a Blue Flag
Blue Flag is an international award given annually to beaches that meet a specific standard of excellence
KwaZulu-Natal now boasts nine Blue Flag beaches – but sadly none of these are on the Upper South Coast.
Seven beaches in the Ray Nkonyeni District (ex-Hibiscus Coast) on the Lower South Coast and two eThekwini Municipality beaches to the north of Durban were awarded Blue Flag status.
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala welcomed the awarding of Blue Flag status to KZN’s nine beaches Natal as a much-needed positive boon for the province’s tourism prospects.
Beaches are awarded this prestigious award on the basis that they meet stringent criteria related to water quality, environmental, management, safety and security, environmental education and information.
These are set by the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa and Blue Flag organisation.
Blue Flag is an international award given annually to beaches that meet a standard of excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness, and environmental management.
South Africa numbers among 40 countries internationally that participate in the programme, with KZN’s nine beaches joining 4,300 others globally.
“For nine beaches in KZN to make the cut is ample proof that our strategy of enhancing the status of our province as a world-class tourism destination that upholds the highest standards is paying the dividends,” said MEC Zikalala. Another seven beaches under the KwaDukuza and eThekwini Municipalities were awarded pilot Blue Flag status.
“Being awarded a Blue Flag status beach means we are all playing our part towards protecting our environment from pollution and man-made degradation while simultaneously ensuring we do not compromise on our reputation as the most preferred domestic tourism destination. Looking ahead, we now want to expand our Blue Flag beaches by converting the status of those beaches that have been identified as pilot sites,” Zikalala said.
Beaches that received Blue Flag status are, in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality – Marina, Trafalgar, Lucien, Southport, Umzumbe, Hibberdene and Ramsgate, and in Ethekwini – Ushaka and Westbrook.
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