George Municipality Launches Blue Flag Summer Season

In the photo from left to right: Cllr Marchell Kleynhans (MMC for Community Services), Alderman Jackie von Brandis (Executive Mayor of George), Mr Godfrey Louw (Acting Municipal Manager) and Cllr Marlene Barnardt (MMC for Planning and Development)

The George Municipality officially launched its Blue Flag summer season today, 2 December 2024, at Victoria Bay Beach. The occasion was marked by the hoisting of the Blue Flag by Executive Mayor Alderman Jackie von Brandis, accompanied by MMC for Planning and Development Cllr Marlene Barnardt, MMC for Community Services Cllr Marchell Kleynhans, and Acting Municipal Manager Mr. Godfrey Louw.

Speaking at the event, Mayor von Brandis said: “Three of our beaches have achieved full Blue Flag status: Victoria Bay, Herold’s Bay, and Wilderness Beach. Leentjiesklip Beach continues to hold pilot Blue Flag status. We are thrilled to welcome visitors to our stunning beaches. George truly offers the ultimate destination for the summer season.”

Celebrating Environmental Excellence

The 2024–2025 Blue Flag season, which began on 1 December, celebrates South Africa’s dedication to sustainable coastal tourism and environmental excellence. George Municipality’s achievement of Blue Flag status for three beaches highlights its commitment to environmental stewardship and visitor safety.

The municipality joined 13 others at the official launch ceremony held at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. Across South Africa, 48 beaches, four marinas, and seven sustainable tourism boats were awarded Blue Flag status this season.

About the Blue Flag Programme

Managed in South Africa by WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) since 2001 and internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), the Blue Flag Programme is a globally recognised eco-label awarded to beaches, marinas, and tourism boats that meet 33 rigorous criteria. These include water quality, environmental education, accessibility, safety, security and visitor facilities.

“Achieving Blue Flag status is no small feat,” said WESSA CEO Cindy-Lee Cloete. “This accolade celebrates the commitment of municipalities, marinas, and tourism boat operators to environmental sustainability, visitor safety and caring for our marine environments and the people who enjoy these spaces. Through our Blue Flag and Green Coast Programmes, we collaborate closely with partners to tackle critical coastal management challenges and promote sustainable tourism.”

What Visitors Can Expect

The Blue Flag beach season runs from 1 December 2024 to 31 January 2025. Visitors can enjoy well-maintained facilities, clean ablutions, and enhanced safety measures, including lifeguards and first-aid equipment. Lifeguards will be on duty at Blue Flag beaches daily:
• 1–13 December 2024: 9 am–5 pm
• 14 December 2024–31 January 2025: 7 am–7 pm

Visitors to Blue Flag beaches can look forward to well-maintained amenities, clean ablutions, educational displays, and proactive safety measures, including trained lifeguards and first-aid equipment. Beaches are also tested regularly for water quality by independent laboratories, with results made publicly available on noticeboards and on WESSA’s website.

Strict regulations ensure the cleanliness and safety of these beaches. Dogs and other pets are prohibited on Blue Flag Beaches to minimise pollution and risks to visitors, with fines imposed for non-compliance. Our beaches may lose their Blue Flag accreditation should the municipality fail to uphold the required high standards for our beachgoers.

Accountability and standards

WESSA conducts frequent inspections of Blue Flag sites to ensure adherence to the programme’s stringent criteria. Sites failing to meet these standards risk temporary or permanent withdrawal of Blue Flag status, a measure aimed at maintaining the programme’s integrity. Visitors are asked to comply with the beach signs, and the directions of the lifeguards and security, and are encouraged to report any concerns to the beach manager or WESSA, whose contact details are displayed on-site.

Economic and Environmental Impact

Mayor von Brandis highlighted the programme’s dual impact: “The Blue Flag recognition not only boosts our appeal to local and international visitors but also drives significant economic benefits for the region. Our investment in this programme reflects our dedication to visitor safety, environmental conservation, and sustainable tourism.”

During the launch, the Mayor met visitors, including Izzy Rodrigues from France, who said: “I thoroughly enjoy South Africa, and Victoria Bay is breathtakingly beautiful, clean, and peaceful. I wish I could stay longer.”

George, proud recipient of the Green Coast Award

The George Municipality is also proud to have received the Green Coast Award for Gwaiing Beach and River. This prestigious award recognizes sustainable management practices at this biodiverse site. Launched in 2017, the Green Coast Award is presented to coastal areas with exceptional biodiversity, emphasizing community involvement in the stewardship of these natural environments. These awards further solidify George Municipality’s reputation as a premier eco-friendly tourism destination along South Africa’s coastline.

For more information on the Blue Flag Programme and a full list of award-winning sites, please visit https://www.wessa.org.za/blue-flag/

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:
About Blue Flag:
The iconic Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating tourism operators. To qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained. With over 5000 sites in over 50 countries around the world, Blue Flag is actively contributing to sustainable development goals. Blue Flag also campaigns against disparity, inequality, unemployment, health threats, depletion of natural resources, environmental threats, pollution and general environmental degradation. In South Africa, Blue Flag has been operational since 2001 and has proud municipal, marina and tourism boat partners in 18 coastal municipalities around the country. Blue Flag is voluntary, which shows a very strong commitment to environmental sustainability from those municipalities, marinas and tourism boat operators that are awarded annually. All properties and companies that apply for the Blue Flag award are assessed by a South African National Jury as well as by the Blue Flag International Jury in Europe.