Turkeys Blue Flag beaches to increase in 2010

To date Turkey has been awarded Blue flags for 286 beaches and 14 Marinas including Port Göcek Marina. Now with another bumper tourist season ahead, the ‘Blue Flag Jury’ convened last week to decide which resorts would win the the Blue flags for 2010.

Throughout the tourism industry, The Blue Flag is coveted as a stamp of approval for environmental cleanliness and safety. The program also awards “voluntary eco-label” to over 3,450 beaches and marinas in around 41 countries globally.

A series of strict criteria must be met by beaches and marinas if they wish to fly the flag and Turkey has been consistently top 5 in the world over the last few years, for its number of certified Blue Flag beaches.

Last year, however, France narrowly beat Turkey to third place with 288 Blue Flag beaches, compared to Turkey’s 286. Spain had 486 approved beaches in 2009, and Greece had 425.

With the longest coastlines stretching from the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts, unsurprisingly Antalya and Muğla have received the most certifications in Turkey, with 156 in Antalya and 62 in Muğla.

The number of Blue Flags in 2010 awarded to Turkish beaches, marinas and yachts will be announced shortly after an international jury reviews the recommendations made by last weekend’s Turkish jury.

For property owners in Turkey this is great news as the beaches are a major deciding factor relating to where to buy property. Villas and apartments in Turkey built near Blue Flag beaches are always in demand and for investors offer greater rewards in rental incomes. Ardesco villas in bodrum built in Yalikavak are set by one of the most stunning coastlines of the Mugla province.