08/11/2022
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️”KWAZILLIANCE”☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
WE JUST KEEP BOUNCING BACK!
“BIG NEWS FOR KZN SOUTH COAST BEACHES, AS THE DESTINATION RETAINS 6 BLUE FLAG STATUS AND SECURES 5 NEW PILOT PHASE BLUE FLAG STATUS FOR ITS BEACHES”!
Southern Explorer members are very excited and welcomes the news by the Blue Flag
programme in South Africa that the District has been able to retain 6 Blue
Flag status for its beaches with 5 new beaches being selected as “Pilot Phase” beaches.
The news augers well for the people and visitors to the destination fondly dubbed as “Paradise Found”, because the Blue
Flag symbol is the guarantee that the beach is safe and environmentally sound.
The International Awards started by
Federation Environmental Education(FEE), based in Europe allows for visitors to experience excellent beach going conditions. The iconic Blue Flag is on of the world's most recognized voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas,and sustainable boating tourism operators. Unlike other municipalities who only become part of the programme only during season, our KZN South Coast beaches maintain their Blue
Flag status for 365 days.
"In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental,
educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. For us achieving this, demonstrate our commitment in promoting local, domestic and international tourism and ensuring that South Coast remains the Tourist
Destination of Choice", said the Mayor of RNM, CIr Sikhumbuzo Mqadi expressing
his elation towards the achievement.
Whilst all the 52 KZN South Coast Bathing beaches are open and safe for recreational activities,the beaches that retained the Blue Flag Status are Marina, Trafalgar, Ramsgate,
Southport, Umzumbe, and Hibberdene whilst St. Michaels, Pennington, Preston, Rocky Bay and Mtwalume was given a status of Blue Flag Pilot Beach.
The internationally recognised Blue Flag programme is an eco-award given to beaches that meet strict standards of excellence in safety, cleanliness, provision of amenities, environmental information
In addition to this, the 2021/2022 Blue Flag announcements honoured two local Blue Flag beaches, Marina and Trafalgar, for maintaining a long history of excellent care.
Marina was honoured for 20 consecutive years within the programme, the only beach in South Africa to have achieved this, while Trafalgar Beach was honoured for 10 consecutive years, an honour shared by only two other beaches in the country.
Visitors to the KZN South Coast’s beaches can also enjoy protected bathing in any of the 20 tidal pools along the coast, also the highest number in KZN, with fantastic rock pools for curious young minds.
Added to this, the region is home to two Marine Protected Areas, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks, considered to be two of the top diving sites in the world.
