The awards
What does a Blue Flag stand for?
Blue Flag is an iconic environmental award trusted by millions around the globe.
Since it launched 1987, Blue Flag has transformed water quality, cleanliness, safety and services. It now recognises the best beaches, marinas and boat tour operators in nearly 50 countries.
We’re incredibly proud that Wales has more Blue Flag beaches per mile than anywhere else in the UK.
What is the Seaside Award?
The Seaside Award is the national standard for the best beaches across the UK. Wherever you see the distinct yellow and blue flag flying, you’re guaranteed to find a clean, attractive and well managed coastal stretch.
How are smaller, quieter beaches recognised?
The Green Coast Award recognises the beautiful, untouched, rugged beaches that line so much of our coast.
They may not have the facilities of more traditional seaside resorts, but Green Coast Award beaches have excellent water quality and are held to high environmental standards.
How to apply
Before starting your application, it’s important to establish which award is right for your site. For marinas and boat tour operators, it’s simple – Blue Flag is the one for you. For beaches, the checklist below can help you make the right decision.
For all awards, please make sure you read the full criteria below.
Our coordinator is on hand if you have any questions or need support with your application. Just email: walescoastawards@keepwalestidy.cymru
Blue Flag Award
Water quality: Excellent
Clean beach: Yes
Risk assessment: Yes
Safety: First aid and all other control measures identified in the detailed site risk assessment
Dog restrictions: Yes
Environmental education activities: Yes
Parking: Yes
Detailed information board: Yes
Toilet facilities: Yes
Litter and recycling bins: Yes
Community guardianship: Encouraged
Seaside Award
Water quality: Sufficient
Clean beach: Yes
Risk assessment: Yes
Safety: First aid and all other control measures identified in the detailed site risk assessment
Dog restrictions: Dogs must be on a lead
Environmental education activities: No
Parking: Yes
Detailed information board: Yes
Toilet facilities: Yes
Litter and recycling bins: Yes
Community guardianship: No
Green Coast Award
Water quality: Excellent or equivalent if the site is not a designated bathing water
Clean beach: Yes
Risk assessment: Yes
Safety: As per site risk assessment
Dog restrictions: No, unless local restrictions are in place
Environmental education activities: No, however local activities should be promoted
Parking: Yes
Detailed information board: Basic information required
Toilet facilities: No
Litter and recycling bins: Yes, unless an alternative scheme is in place and information about it available to visitors
Community guardianship: Yes
FAQs
The Blue Flag is an international symbol recognised award, associated with clean seas, services and facilities, and is an important tool for the tourism industry in showcasing our wonderful beaches and marinas.
The results of a public survey conducted by Keep Wales Tidy revealed that two thirds of visitors said that it would possibly or certainly affect their decision to go to that beach in particular. Significantly, over 82% of businesses said that they believed that the Blue Flag Awards helps to attract visitors to their location boosting local economies.
Applications can be submitted from November to December.
Applications are made online. It is essential that the co-ordinator has made a site visit prior to the application to ensure that the site is suitable for the award.
Register your details and login.
Step one: Desktop Assessment
In this first stage, our coordinator ensures the forms have been completed correctly and all the required supporting documents have been provided. You may be asked to provide more information to support your application, particularly if issues have been identified during the previous season. If for any reason you are unable to meet the criteria, a dispensation must be submitted, along with clear explanation of what measures are being taken to resolve the issue.
Step two: National Jury
This is an independent body made up of coastal stakeholders who assess the applications and decide whether they fulfil the required criteria. The meeting is usually held in January.
The National Jury has sole responsibility for awarding the Seaside and Green Coast Awards. Blue Flag applications must then go to the International Jury.
Step three: International Jury (for Blue Flag applications only)
This is the final stage for Blue Flag applications. The International Jury is organised by FEE (the Foundation for Environmental Education), who own the Blue Flag programme, and is made up of representations from key international organisations.
The International Jury review all applications to ensure that sites around the world show the same level of excellence.
Step four: Control Visits
To ensure high standards are upheld, an annual inspection of the site and its facilities is conducted during the bathing season (May to September).
- Blue Flag for beaches £620 + VAT
- Blue Flag for marinas £620 +VAT
- Seaside Award £260 +VAT
- Green Coast Award £100 +VAT
When owners / operators of beaches, marinas and boats are awarded the right to display the Blue Flag, it is because they have satisfied FEE, and the National Operator Keep Wales Tidy, that they complied at the time of award with a number of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria.
Following the award, the owners / operators accept full responsibility to ensure continued compliance with all of these criteria. While FEE and Keep Wales Tidy may carry out checks of sites from time to time, neither FEE nor Keep Wales Tidy, nor any of its officers, members, volunteers, or jury members accept any responsibility to any person in the event of any non-compliance.
