Andalucía Celebrates Record Blue Flags in 2025

The Counselor of Tourism and Andalucía Exterior, Arturo Bernal, participated in the award ceremony for the Blue Flags 2025, recognizing municipalities, beaches, marinas, and tourism boats committed to environmental management, sustainability, and service quality. Held in La Carihuela, Torremolinos, the event was attended by representatives from numerous recognized municipalities. Bernal emphasized Andalusia’s leadership, totaling 138 flags spread among 49 municipalities, alongside 20 marinas and 3 awarded tourist boats. Málaga leads with 45 flags, followed by Almería with 35, Cádiz with 31, Granada with 13, Huelva with 12, and Córdoba and Jaén with one each. Special recognitions for universal accessibility and lifeguard services went to Fuengirola, Málaga, and Chipiona.

The event was presided over by Arturo Bernal, along with Margarita Del Cid, the Mayor of Torremolinos, and Pepe Palacios, President of ADEAC. Bernal underscored the importance of these recognitions, stating that they reflect a collective effort by municipalities, businesses, and citizens to keep our coasts and ports in excellent, sustainable, and accessible conditions. The counselor announced the recovery of subsidies for actions on Andalusian beaches, focusing on competitiveness, diversification, and reducing environmental impact. These aids will total 6 million euros—the highest so far—aiming to improve accessibility, reduce water consumption, and enhance safety at beaches.

Bernal asserted that Andalusia’s success in receiving Blue Flags is “not by chance, but a sustained strategy based on quality, cooperation, and respect for the natural environment.” He highlighted that the Andalusian coast has adapted to current challenges without losing its essence, showcasing inland beaches like El Encinarejo in Jaén and the Breña reservoir beach in Córdoba, which also received recognition. The president of ADEAC noted that Andalusia leads this year in the number of Blue Flags, with 138 awards—a significant increase from previous years—establishing itself as a reference for environmental management along the coast. “This success is possible thanks to the shared responsibility of all actors involved in the conservation and management of our coasts,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the mayor of Torremolinos emphasized that “sun and beach tourism is part of our municipality’s lifestyle, and today we celebrate that 100% of our coastline has received the blue flag, recognizing the efforts to maintain quality, accessible, and environmentally-friendly beaches.” She also recalled that Torremolinos has been a pioneer in this model since the 1950s and that in 2025, the coastline reaffirms its leadership. Bernal concluded by stressing that sustainability and environmental education are fundamental for ensuring responsible and quality tourism. “The success in the awards reflects our commitment to a respectful, safe, and accessible coast, which should be a legacy for future generations.” This acknowledgment further cements Andalusia’s position as a leader in sustainable coastal management, affirming its leadership in quality tourism and environmental commitment in Spain and Europe.