The meeting, held at the Hotel Senator on Gandia's beach, served to pay tribute to the only seven beaches and two sports harbors in all of Spain that have continuously maintained the Blue Flag since the program's inception. Among these honorees are Carregador beach in Alcalà de Xivert, San Joan in Alicante, La Fossa in Calpe, Sant Antoni in Cullera, Carrer la Mar in El Campello, Bastiagueiro in Oleiros, and Nord beach in Gandia, in addition to the Altea Nautical Club and the Calpe Nautical Club.
During the event, the mayor of Gandia, José Manuel Prieto, and the president of ADEAC, José Palacios, highlighted the sustained work of municipalities and entities in maintaining environmental and tourism excellence standards.
“"Today we don't just celebrate a flag, we celebrate 40 years of constant commitment, demonstrating that excellence is not improvised and that sustainability is not a passing trend, but a deep conviction."
Prieto recalled the city's commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and tourism quality, noting that Gandia hosted the II International Blue Flag Congress in 2024. “We are a city aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and committed to excellent environmental management as a differentiating element,” he stated.
The mayor also emphasized the work of municipal services, beach brigades, lifeguards, and tourism professionals, as well as the measures promoted by the City Council regarding sustainability and mobility, including sustainable tourism plans, smoke-free beaches, free access zones along the shore, and traffic restrictions on the promenade.
Gandia has renewed the Blue Flag for Nord beach this year for the 40th consecutive year and also maintains distinctions for l’Auir beach, the Marjal Nature Classroom of Gandia, and the Blue Trail of the elevated pedestrian walkway on Nord beach. Furthermore, the city has received a special national mention for the quality of its rescue and lifeguard services.
“"In over 5,000 Blue Flag locations across 52 countries, only seven beaches and two sports harbors have maintained the distinction since the program's inception. It is a true pride."
For his part, ADEAC president José Palacios thanked the City Council for its collaboration and underlined the significance of this anniversary. He further emphasized that the recognition “is not the result of chance,” but of coordinated work among administrations, municipal technicians, cleaning services, security forces, lifeguards, and tourism professionals.
During the day, commemorative plaques, certificates, and flags were presented to the municipalities and sports harbors recognized for their four consecutive decades of excellence. The event also included the participation of the Deputy Director General of Tourism Development and Sustainability of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Ilona Shekyants; the Director General of Environmental Quality and Education of the Generalitat Valenciana, Jorge Blanco; and the honorary president of ADEAC, José Ramón Sánchez.
