THE Valencian Community continues to lead the way in Spain with 174 Blue Flags awarded on Tuesday for the excellence and quality of its beaches, marinas, and tourist boats.

The Association of Environmental and Consumer Education (Adeac) also acknowledges commitment to protecting the environment.

The national provincial total is topped once again by Alicante with 95 flags on the Costa Blanca.

NEW WINNER, CALA ADVOCAT, BENISSA

Spain once again leads the international rankings with 677 beaches getting Blue Flags- 33 more than last year- out of a total of 794 awards.

The Valencia region accounts for 22% of the country’s total with nine more awards than in 2025.

Out of the regional total, 152 flags go to beaches, 20 to marinas and two to tourist boats

Valencian Environment minister, Vicente Martinez Mus, said he was pleased with the news and stressed the awards were important ‘to promote sustainable tourism and respect for the environment’.

MARTINEZ MUS

He added that work will continue to maintain the region as a ‘benchmark in sustainability and quality’.

New flags in Alicante province have been awarded to Cala Advocat in Benissa, as well as Puerto Blanco and El Raco in Calpe plus El Campello’s Cala Lanuza.

In Valencia, there’s recognition in Cullera for Brosquil beach and Mareny beach in Sant Llorens while in Castellon, a flag goes to Pla de la Torre beach in Almassora.

Four regional beaches have won back flags which they lost last year, namely l’Arenal, in Javea; l’Espigo, in Altea; Tamarit, in Santa Pola and Serradal in Castello de la Plana.

JAVEA’S EL ARENAL ‘RESTORED’

Two beaches however have been stripped of blue flag status after their water quality fell to ‘good’ as opposed to the ‘excellent’ requirement.

They are Cabanyal beach in Valencia, and Benissa’s Fustera cove.

All 20 marina candidates were successful in getting awards including a first-time honour for Les Fonts in Alcossebre.

Adeac has also recognised 26 interpretation centres in municipalities that have been classified as ‘blue’ centres which contribute to highlighting local ecosystems, as well as raising awareness among the population about environmental problems.

15 of those centres are in Alicante province.

The Adeac jury also gave special mentions to Gandia’s lifeguard service and to Santa Pola for its environmental education.
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