SPAIN is once again world number one for the most blue-flag beaches – with nearly 700 to choose from, the total continues to rise and has gone up by 12 this year.
Yacht marinas and tourist boats also receive the superior-quality kitemark ahead of each summer, and 101 of the former, compared with 100 in 2017, plus five of the latter – three in Mallorca and two in Málaga – have earned blue flags.
Beaches are the main recipients, and last year's 579 blue-flag coastal areas have now risen to 590.
In total, Spain now holds 696 blue flags, a small increase on last summer's 684.
A high number of blue-flag beaches have been winning these awards consistently for many years – about 20% have received the kitemark every year for the last five to nine years inclusive, and another 10% for a decade or more.
The Comunidad Valenciana, along the east coast of the mainland, continues to be Spain's largest blue-flag beach region, with 132, up from 129 last year.
Galicia in the far north-west has 109, having lost four from 2017, and Catalunya has 101, representing a slight increase on last year's 96.
Catalunya, the Balearic Islands, Andalucía, Galicia and the Comunidad Valenciana have the most blue-flag yacht marinas, in that order.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com