PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) — In a sudden twist, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Mexico withdrew Blue Flag certifications from three beaches in Puerto Vallarta this week. This decision came just as the foundation was set to honor six beaches in the area with the renowned Blue Flag badges for the 2023-2024 season.
This raises questions, as the omitted beaches should not have been included in the list to begin with if they hadn’t met all the criteria.
The affected beaches, Camarones, Palmares, and Playa de Oro, are still listed on the official Blue Flag list despite the deregistration. Blue Flags are awarded to beaches that meet rigorous international environmental and safety standards.
The FEE’s tour, spearheaded by Arturo Joaquín Díaz Ríos, commenced on July 1 to distribute the seasonal badges. A few months prior, the word had spread that Puerto Vallarta would proudly host six Blue Flags, having met all the stipulated criteria. The FEE itself lauded efforts made at Camarones Beach on social media, particularly praising the cleanliness of the sand area, a crucial factor in the Environmental Management category of the Blue Flag program.
Similarly, Playa Palmares underwent a control visit, where it notably achieved high marks in lifeguard training and responsiveness, emphasizing safety for its visitors. Playa de Oro was similarly recognized for its lifeguard efforts, excelling in the Security and Services category.
This week, Díaz Ríos journeyed to Puerto Vallarta to bestow the badges to three beach locations: the Sheraton hotel, marking its sixth consecutive year of recognition, and newcomers Westin and Marriott hotels.
However, Díaz Ríos, when probed about the missing badges for the other three beaches, stated, “Camarones, Palmares, and Playa de Oro unilaterally halted the documentary verification of the criteria, which automatically excludes them from the international Blue Flag program. Essentially, it appears the municipal government intervened in this process.”
Despite this statement, these three beaches are still presently included in the official Blue Flag Mexico list for the 2023-2024 season, leading to further confusion. Díaz Ríos did confirm that the beaches would soon be removed from the official list.
PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) — In a sudden twist, the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) in Mexico withdrew Blue Flag certifications from three beaches in Puerto Vallarta this week. This decision came just as the foundation was set to honor six beaches in the area with the renowned Blue Flag badges for the 2023-2024 season.
This raises questions, as the omitted beaches should not have been included in the list to begin with if they hadn't met all the criteria.
