{"id":973,"date":"2015-04-07T00:37:35","date_gmt":"2015-04-07T00:37:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.propertiesincostarica.com\/blog\/?p=973"},"modified":"2015-11-05T15:57:18","modified_gmt":"2015-11-05T15:57:18","slug":"bandera_azul_ecologica_award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.propertiesincostarica.com\/blog\/bandera_azul_ecologica_award\/","title":{"rendered":"Bandera Azul Ecol\u00f3gica\u2026 sounds exotic, doesn\u2019t it?"},"content":{"rendered":"

by\u00a0Rod Martin<\/a><\/p>\n

Bandera Azul Ecol\u00f3gica<\/em>\u2026 sounds exotic, doesn\u2019t it? Well, it is<\/strong> exotic in a pristine tropical beach kind of way. Bandera Azul<\/em> translates to English as \u201cBlue Flag\u201d — a designation awarded annually by the ICT (or the Tourism Board in Costa Rica). Eighty-nine beaches received at least one Bandera Azul, while some received an additional two, three, and even five stars for exemplary status.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Inspired by a similar program developed in Spain in 1985, the “Bandera Azul Ecol\u00f3gica” is intended to curb the negative impacts of increasing tourism and population by helping the local community to protect the beach environment and limit pollution. Costa Rica\u2019s version was started in 1996, and 10 beaches received a blue flag designation that year. In 2004, an executive decree was made that clarified and organized the various government institutions to better manage the program. That foresight to protect one of its most precious attractions (clean beaches and water) is part of the reason why Costa Rica is booming now. Over 2.5 million visitors came to Costa Rica in 2014 (not to mention an influx of new coastal residents), and eco-tourism is one of its fastest growing sub-sectors.<\/p>\n

For those who like the specifics behind a catchy headline, the beaches are evaluated on seven different criteria:<\/p>\n