Gay Nagle Myers
Awards proliferate in the travel industry. Hotels get them, suppliers get them; they’re handed out in all categories from airlines to zoos.
Even beaches and marinas get them. The equivalent of an Oscar in this category is the Blue Flag certificate, handed out by the nonprofit Foundation for Environmental Education.
Five Mexican beaches fly the Blue Flag, signifying that they are ecofriendly and adhere to strict standards dealing with water quality; environmental education and information; environmental management; cleanliness; waste and recycling programs; and safety and preservation measures, among other categories.
The Blue Flag beaches are Playa Chahue in Huatulco, el Chileno in Los Cabos, Playa Delfines in Cancun, el Palmar in Ixtapa-
Zihuatanejo and Nuevo Vallarta Norte in Nayarit.
“The Blue Flag certification marks a very important accomplishment for Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and the state of Guerrero because it shows the community’s commitment to sustainable tourism and providing the best quality of service to our visitors,” said Gov. Angel Aguirre Rivero of Guerrero.