Within the scope of the Blue Flag Program conducted by the Turkish Environmental Education Foundation (TÜRÇEV), another public beach in Didim has been awarded a blue flag.
The new addition – the 2nd bay, Amphitheatre green area – brings the number of Blue Flag beaches and marinas to 13.
Didim Mayor Hatice Gençay, Deputy Mayors Aydan Aşık Turgut and Kaan Topçuoğulları, Didim Municipality Council members, TÜRÇEV North Aegean Provinces Coordinator Yetkin Karabinali and citizens attended the blue flag program.
Before the blue flag was raised at the 2nd bay, Coordinator Yetkin Karabinali said: “We will wave the Blue Flag Environment Award, which is an important eco-label, for the first time at Didim Municipality 2nd Bay Public Beach.
“Didim Municipality is a district that has increased the number of Blue Flags. The Blue Flag adventure which started in Didim in 2006 and continues as of 2024 continues with a total of 13 blue flags, 5 of which are public beaches, 7 facility beaches, and a marina.”
As of 2024, 567 beaches, 27 marinas, 9 individual yachts, and 18 tourism boats have been deemed worthy of the Blue Flag award in Turkey.
Emphasizing that it is not easy to get the blue flag, Karabinali said: “33 criteria must be met and these 33 criteria are included in several main headings. Cleanliness of sea water, environmental management, quality of swimming water, environmental education and information, life safety and provision of first aid facilities for beach users.
“It is really very difficult to win the blue flag and fulfill the 33 criteria here, Didim Municipality employees and our Mayor’s efforts are especially great here.“
Mayor Gençay said: “We would like to thank Yetkin Bey and the Environmental Volunteers Foundation of Turkey. It is very important for us to have a blue flag, when we go on holiday we attach great importance to the fact that the place we look at the sea, sand and history also has a blue flag.”
After the speeches, the blue flag document of the 2nd bay community plan was presented to Coordinator Yetkin Karabinali and Mayor Hatice Gençay. After the document was received together with the citizens, the blue flag was hoisted.