PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — Jalisco’s Secretary of Tourism, Michelle Fridman Hirsch, led a formal signing of the commitment to secure Blue Flag certification for a series of beaches in Puerto Vallarta and the Costalegre region. The event brought together mayors from Puerto Vallarta, Cabo Corrientes, La Huerta, and Cihuatlán, demonstrating a unified approach to maintaining and enhancing the area’s environmental, safety, and sustainability standards.
During the signing ceremony, Secretary Fridman emphasized the importance of clean, certified beaches in attracting both domestic and international tourism. She highlighted that visitors want not only a picturesque setting matching online images, but also clear assurances of health and safety. “What visitors, both from Mexico and abroad, are most looking for is safety and health while swimming, in addition to knowing that the place they saw in a photo online looks the same in reality,” said Fridman. “That’s why the issue of quality and certification is so important. Puerto Vallarta already has three Blue Flag beaches, and we are working diligently to increase that number.”
The proposed certifications follow a recent assessment in February 2024 and include 12 beaches in Puerto Vallarta: Garza Blanca, Palmares, El Nogalito (Punta Negra), Conchas Chinas I and II, Playa de Oro, Sheraton, Marriott, Regina, Camarones, and, additionally, Mismaloya and Amapas under consideration for the White Flag distinction. Costalegre’s proposed candidates include Tenacatita, Pérula, La Manzanilla, Salamandra, Cuastecomate, Barra de Navidad, Quimixto, Yelapa, and Las Ánimas.
Representing the Foundation for Environmental Education in Mexico, Diego Díaz Hernández congratulated the authorities for their dedication to sustainable coastal management and noted that training initiatives would accompany the certification process, focusing on environmental awareness. According to Díaz Hernández, there are already 115 Blue Flag beaches across Mexico, a figure authorities in Jalisco aspire to help increase.
Mayor Luis Ernesto Munguía González of Puerto Vallarta delivered the welcoming remarks and thanked the Secretary of Tourism for her ongoing support. He hailed the collaboration between municipal and state entities as a model of effective governance. Looking ahead, Secretary Fridman expressed satisfaction with the progress and reaffirmed the goal to certify at least 30 percent of Puerto Vallarta’s beaches. “It’s wonderful to be able to say we’re improving what’s already good,” she said, referencing a recent report from Cofepris confirming the cleanliness of Jalisco’s beaches.
With a unified pledge now in place, local officials and tourism leaders are confident that boosting the number of certified beaches will not only enhance the tourist experience but also safeguard Jalisco’s coastal environment for generations to come.
