Guhagar, Ladghar and Shrivardhan beaches get final Blue Flag certification

Three well-known beaches on the Konkan coast, Guhagar, Ladghar and Shrivardhan, have been announced as winners of the prestigious international Blue Flag award, in good news for Maharashtra tourism. National Blue Flag Operator Dr Sreeji Kurup said the three beaches have received final recognition.

The Denmark-based international body, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), will soon hand over the official Blue Flag to the beaches.

The Blue Flag is a globally recognised international rating given to eco-friendly beaches. The award is given after assessment on several criteria. These include beach cleanliness, seawater quality, environmental protection, tourist safety, toilets, drinking water, disaster management arrangements, environmental awareness and sustainable management.

Under Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai, the Maharashtra government is trying to make the state's tourist destinations world class. Priority is being given to eco-friendly tourism, beach cleanliness, tourist safety, development of basic facilities and sustainable tourism management. The international recognition of these efforts has been described as an important milestone for the state's tourism sector.

Tourism Department Secretary Sanjay Yadav said: "The final Blue Flag award for the three beaches of Guhagar, Ladghar and Shrivardhan is an important achievement from the point of view of Maharashtra's tourism development. The award recognises efforts to develop beach cleanliness, environmental protection, safety and facilities needed by tourists according to international standards. The government will focus on promoting sustainable tourism in Maharashtra, balancing tourism development with environmental protection."

Directorate of Tourism Director Vikas Pansare said: "The final Blue Flag award for three Maharashtra beaches is a notable success for the state's tourism sector. This status will strengthen the international identity of the Konkan beaches. While developing the state's vast and nature-rich coastline, the government's priority is to balance environmental protection, cleanliness, tourist safety and world-class facilities. This award will certainly strengthen our efforts to take Maharashtra to the top of the world tourism map. The government is committed to developing more of the state's tourist destinations to international standards in the coming time."

The recognition is expected to draw the attention of tourists from within and outside the country to Maharashtra's beaches. It is also expected to boost the Konkan tourism business, local employment and allied industries linked to tourism.

Maharashtra has a vast coastline of about 878 km. The Konkan holds special importance for tourism because of its natural beauty, clean beaches, rich marine biodiversity, historical heritage, local culture and Konkani cuisine. Against this background, the final Blue Flag award for the three beaches is seen as giving the state's coastal tourism an international identity.

While developing tourist destinations, the Maharashtra government's Tourism Department is placing special emphasis on sustainable tourism, environmental protection, participation of local communities and world-class facilities for tourists.