More Blue Flags For The Riviera Nayarit
- The process to obtain more blue flags for 2015 began after an initial meeting with Blue Flag personnel, representatives from three levels of government, plus regional businessmen and associations.
The Riviera Nayarit already leads the way in Mexico with 10 Certified Clean Beaches plus a Blue Flag certification and is striving to achieve even more for the coming year.
To this end a meeting was held at the start of November headed by Raúl Rodrigo Pérez, Secretary of Tourism for Nayarit, and Joaquín Díaz Ríos, coordinator for Mexico’s Blue Flag program and a member of Pronatura México.
Also present were Marc Murphy, the Managing Director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), regional hoteliers and representatives from the three levels of government that deal with this subject.
Joaquín Díaz pointed out the Riviera Nayarit is the place with the highest potential to earn the most Blue Flags within Mexico. To date there are 11 Blue Flag beaches in the country—the objective for 2015 is to raise that number to 16. Díaz Ríos assured those present that the Riviera Nayarit has what it takes to obtain more than one Blue Flag.
During the meeting a tour of potential Blue Flag recipients was scheduled for December 9th. Both La Tranquila and the Iberostar Punta Mita hotels proposed Playa Litibú as one of the potential beneficiaries.
The Marina Riviera Nayarit was inspected the same day of the meeting; the conclusion was that it had a high probability of becoming the first marina in the country to win the coveted distinction.
“We were already committed to a yearly environmental impact program even before we had knowledge of the Blue Flag program,” commented Rafael Alcántara, the Marina Riviera Nayarit’s harbormaster. “Basically we already have an advantage in that aspect. I think we’re more than halfway there already so it will be easier for us to comply with the requisites.”
There are studies proving that Blue Flag beaches can generate up to a 300% increase in visitors once the distinction is awarded. In order to obtain it the beach must meet 33 rigorous criteria covering four distinct parameters: Environmental Education and Information, Water Quality, Environmental Management, and Safety and Services.
Riviera Nayarit CVB
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