国际英语资讯:Roundup: Greeces Blue-flagged beaches set to welcome tourists under COVID-19 safety rules_时事

国际英语资讯:Roundup: Greeces Blue-flagged beaches set to welcome tourists under COVID-19 safety rules

The excellent quality of the seawater, safety and services provided were recognized with the prestigious Blue Flag international awards given this May to 497 beaches, 14 marinas and 6 tourism vessels nationwide.

Greece received the second largest number of Blue Flags for its beaches among over 40 countries worldwide this year, behind Spain, announced the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (HSPN) last week.

The Greek environmental group HSPN is the national operator of the program that runs for more than three decades under the auspices of the owner of the Blue Flag trademark, the Foundation for Environmental Education, which is headquartered in Copenhagen.

The Blue Flag is regarded as one of the most recognizable ecological symbols in the world, Nikos Petrou, HSPN President, noted in a message for the 2020 Blue Flag annual awards.

In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of more than 30 stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained by operators of organized beaches, marinas and tourism vessels.

"Once again, Greece ranks second internationally among 47 countries participating in the program, after Spain and before Turkey. This allows us to have optimism for this year's summer," Petrou commented.

"This year's awards have a special significance. All together we are holding strongly the Blue Flag which unites us. In this difficult period, the sea, the sky and the sea depth is a comparative advantage for our country and our tourism industry," Manos Konsolas, Greece's Deputy Tourism Minister said in his message for the new awards.