What is "Blue Flag" in the First Place? ~ What the World’s Most Historic Coastal Environmental Certification Aims to Achieve ~
At JARTA (Japan Alliance of Responsible Travel Agencies), we work to utilize international certifications in collaboration with local communities to promote sustainable tourism.
This autumn, "Blue Flag," an international environmental certification drawing significant attention across Japan—including the Tohoku and Minamisanriku areas—is the focus of a four-part series titled "Shaping the Future of Local Communities with Blue Flag," running through October.
This series will explore everything from the basic framework of the certification and advanced case studies in Europe and the Americas to how local benefits are delivered in Tohoku/Minamisanriku, as well as JARTA's vision as the secretariat.
[Series Lineup (4 Parts Total)]
- Part 1: What is "Blue Flag" in the First Place? ~ What the World’s Most Historic Coastal Environmental Certification Aims to Achieve ~ (This Article)
- Part 2: The True Value Brought by Blue Flag ~ Western Case Studies and Sustainable Tourism ~
- Part 3: Thinking About the Future of Blue Flag from Tohoku and Minamisanriku ~ Community Returns Beyond Subsidies ~
- Part 4: Why JARTA Promotes Blue Flag ~ Sustainable Tourism Hand in Hand with Local Communities ~
What is Blue Flag? An Environmental Certification Established in 1985 with the World's Longest History for Coastal Areas
Blue Flag originated in France in 1985 as an environmental education project where children put letters into bottles and floated them in the sea. Today, it is an international environmental certification system operated by the international NGO FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education).
As an international certification for coastal areas, it boasts the longest history in the world and is currently awarded to over 5,200 beaches, marinas, and boats across more than 50 countries. In Japan, starting with Takahama Town (Wakasa Wada Beach) and Kamakura City (Yuigahama Beach)—which became the first in Asia to receive certification in 2016—the program has expanded to a total of 15 locations.
Coastal areas that achieve certification are permitted to fly a blue flag, proving to both visitors and local residents that the site is a "sustainable and high-quality coastal area."
Not Just "Pretty Water"! Strict Criteria Tailored to Each Category
The most notable feature of Blue Flag is that it cannot be obtained simply through surface-level beauty, such as having "good water quality" or "clean seas." Strict criteria are set for each category, and evaluations are conducted annually.
- Beaches: 33 criteria across 4 categories (Water Quality, Environmental Education and Information, Environmental Management, Safety and Services / Accessibility)
- Marinas: 37 criteria across 6 categories
- Tourism Boats: 51 criteria across 5 categories
For beaches, achieving certification requires clearing a wide range of multi-faceted initiatives—not only publishing water quality test results, but also conducting at least five environmental education events per year and ensuring barrier-free accessibility so that wheelchair users can enjoy the sea.
Furthermore, Blue Flag collaborates with UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and UN Tourism (World Tourism Organization), and a major characteristic of the certification is that its criteria are linked to all 17 SDGs goals.
Certification is Not a "Goal," but a "Start" to Be Nurtured by the Community
The core philosophy of Blue Flag is that "it does not end once you get it."
Assessments take place every year, operating under a strict renewal system where the flag can be revoked if standards are not continuously met. In other words, obtaining a Blue Flag is not the "end goal," but rather a "continuous starting line" for the entire community to maintain and elevate its environment, safety, and community bonds.
The true essence of the Blue Flag program lies in its role as a tool for making challenges visible, bringing local residents, local businesses, and municipalities together to reflect on and act upon how to protect and utilize their own seas.
Next Issue Preview: What is the "True Value" Brought to the Region?
In the next issue (Part 2), we will explore the specific benefits that obtaining a Blue Flag brings to local communities and tourism, taking a closer look at advanced case studies from Europe and the Americas, as well as local returns and economic cycles in sustainable tourism.
(Continued in Part 2)
