Dolphin Beach bags 6th Blue Flag

DOLPHIN Beach in Jeffreys Bay has received international Blue Flag status for the 6th consecutive year.

It is one of only 29 beaches countrywide to have received this award, which acts as a guarantee to tourists that a beach they are visiting is one of the best in the world.

Kouga executive mayor Robbie Dennis said the award once again highlighted the good work being done by the municipality.

“The Blue Flag is awarded to those beaches that have achieved the highest quality in water, facilities, safety, environmental education and management.”

South Africa’s Blue Flag beaches for the 2009/2010 season were announced by Tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk at a ceremony in Cape Town last week.

In a statement released after the ceremony, he said that it was extremely good news for tourism that South Africa had secured ten more Blue Flags than in the previous year.
"Our Blue Flag beaches increase our desirability and reputation as a world-class destination,” he said.

“ With the exception of Morocco, South Africa is the only African country implementing Blue Flag, and we have done so with increasing success since 2001.

According to Dennis, good progress has also been made towards securing Blue Flag status for Pellsrus Beach, also in Jeffreys Bay. “Pellsrus Beach is still in the pilot phase, but good progress has been made and we are holding thumbs that it will be awarded Blue Flag status next year.”

He said outstanding issues at Pellsrus included the upgrading of ablution facilities, which has been budgeted for in the current financial year. The municipality also has to do regular water tests between now and April 2010, the results of which will be sent to the Blue Flag adjudicators.