St George’s Bay has acquired Blue Flag status making Malta the 38th country worldwide to have a beach of such high standards.
Tourism parliamentary secretary Mario de Marco said during the award ceremony that Maltese beaches were of strategic tourism importance and the blue flag acquisition for St George’s Bay was a clear sign of the government’s commitment to continuously invest in the country’s tourism product.
He said that more than half a million tourists a year came to Malta for the sea and sun so the product had to continue being strengthened.
Dr de Marco noted that the Bugibba perched beach was awarded a Blue Flag Certificate while Golden Bay got a Beach of Quality certificate.
The three bays getting the awards, he said, were all managed by the Malta Tourism Authority.
Vince Attard, Malta representative of the Blue Flag International said that the flag was given after a bay was managed well and consistently for a number of years. It had to have good quality water and the necessary infrastructure.