With 108 sites, Mexico confirms its international leadership in Blue Flag Distinctions for the 2023-2024 season

The Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico, Miguel Torruco Brandsannounced that Mexico has confirmed its leadership with the first place in the American continent and the 10th in the world for the 2023-2024 season, with 108 sites that will display the Blue Flag Distinctive.

By chairing the Second Meeting of the Blue Flag National Jury, The head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) celebrated the decision of the International Jury, the National Jury and the Foundation for Environmental Education Mexico (FEE) to award the Blue Flag to 73 beaches, 2 marinas and 33 sustainable tourism boats.

He pointed out that the agency for which he is responsible, in coordination with the FEE, has piloted and promoted programs aimed at raising awareness among tourists and residents of the importance of ecosystems.

One of them is Green Key, which focuses on the sustainability of the accommodation industry, as well as the Blue Flag, a distinctive sign created in 1985, which is awarded to beaches, marinas and tourist boatsfor his excellence in environmental management, safety, services and water quality.

Torruco Marqués commented that the heavenly The beaches of Mexico They are ideal places for rest and family leisure, but also for practicing extreme water sports or wedding celebrationswith the immense sea as witness.

“Given its relevance, we must continue to work on its preservation, maintenance and protection, as indicated in the National Development Plan 2019-2024, where the government of Mexico, led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, s ‘is committed to sustainability as an indispensable factor of well-being, according to ethical, social, environmental and economic principles, which, applied to the present, allow us to aspire to a livable and harmonious future”, he said. declared.

Kuxatur Project

The Tourism Secretary pointed out that, in this context, Sectur has implemented the Kuxatur project, whose main objective is the conservation of biodiversity in coastal ecosystems, through the design and implementation of policies and innovative models of sustainable tourism; and has Global Environment Facility funding of $7.4 million, to be executed in 6 years, which is applied to Maya Ka’an, Quintana Roo; the Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Sur; and Huatulco-Chacahua, in Oaxaca.

He pointed out that these actions also contribute to attracting a greater flow of tourists to our country, but above all to increasing the capture of foreign currencies, this is how the tourism potential of a nation; and thus comply with the presidential instruction to make tourism a tool for social reconciliation.

“My appreciation to all those involved in beach and marina conservation, for implementing better programs and sustainable practices. The collaboration between tourism service providers, authorities, civil society organizations and the population as a whole is the key to facing the challenges imposed by an ever-changing tourism, so remember that they will be the nations that will best preserve their environment and preserve its historical, cultural and cultural identity. , those that participate in the extraordinary economic benefit of tourism in the future”, concluded the head of Sector.

For its part, Joaquín Arturo Díaz Ríos, Executive Director of FEE Mexico, announced that the International Blue Flag Jury met on April 19, 2023 to review and approve Blue Flag applications for 2023; and deemed admissible the applications of 108 sites and therefore likely to hold the Distinctive Blue Flag for the 2023-2024 Season.

congratulated the national operators for covering the processes in a timely manner; as well as for the delivery of quality documentation, which made it possible to carry out a successful international evaluation.

Díaz Ríos stressed the importance of blue flag as a tool that adds value to one of the most important productive activities in the country and constitutes an important basis for the internal competitivenessin the international tourist environment and above all that promotes the environmentally responsible use of beaches, marinas, as well as the responsible operation of boats in Mexico.

At the second meeting of the National Blue Flag Jury, the Tourism Secretary included Humberto Hernández Haddad, Undersecretary of Tourism; José Zeind Domínguez, General Manager of Tourism Certification; and María Magdalena Rabanal Romero, Director of Certification System Regulations.

On behalf of the National Water Commission (Conagua) in the presence of María Margarita Dafne Lobato Calleros, responsible for water quality; José Antonio Rodríguez, head of federal drinking water and sanitation programs; and Luis Miguel Jáuregui Mandujano, Deputy Director of Water Quality Sector Programs; as well as Laura Lizbeth Bermejo Molina president of Libre Acceso AC; and Gustavo Alanis-Ortega; President of the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (Cemda).

Likewise, on behalf of the Secretary of the Navy (Semar), Captain of the Graduate Staff of the Navy CG Omar Bracamontes Cruz, Director of Marine Environmental Protection (Promam); and Captain Ana Laura López Bautista, Deputy Director General of Oceanography, Hydrography and Meteorology; as well as Rafael Alejandro López Reséndiz, Head of the Department of Environmental Impact Monitoring and Verification Department of the Federal Prosecutor for Environmental Protection (Profepa), among others.

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