Awards for Improving the Coastal Environment: The Example of the Blue Flag

This publication describes how tourism can be better integrated with the coastal environment through an award scheme that has done much to improve environmental awareness in coastal areas. The first part of the publication deals with the development of the Blue Flag scheme and the range of criteria to be fulfilled. The second part discusses the lessons learnt from the European Blue Flag scheme and highlights the problems likely to be encountered and the steps to mount a successful coastal award campaign in non-European regions.