QUALITY BEACHES CONFIRMED

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Following the recent successful receipt of the European Blue Flag award for quality beaches, the Spanish Institute for Tourism Quality, or ICTE as it is abbreviated to, held their sixth official flag award ceremony this week, in which the “Q” flag for quality was granted to 174 beaches and 15 nautical sports facilities in Spain, 45 for beaches in the Valencia Region, which makes it the second ranking region in terms of numbers of flags awarded.

The Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, who chaired the ceremony, highlighted that the number of awards this year proves the “commitment to quality tourism” of these locations, which must be a “stimulus” to the tourism industry.

Accompanied by Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego, and the president of ICTE, Miguel Mirones, the minister stressed that although tourism in Spain is not just “sun and beach”, that factor quantifies around “three-quarters of the contribution of tourism to the economy”.

Andalucía is the top spot for “Q” quality beaches, having received a total of 59 flags. Second is Valencia with 45, followed by Murcia who has 25 beaches of standard.

In Orihuela, five beaches have met the standard required by the “Q” flag assessors; two fewer than the seven beaches awarded the Blue Flag, which are Cala Capitán, Punta Prima, Mil Palmeras, Cala Estaca and La Glea. In 2012 there were also five “Q” awards, as was the case in 2011.

In Torrevieja, four beaches have “Q” flags, Los Náufragos, El Cura, Cabo Cervera and Cala Piteras, one more than last year, although one less than the 5 Blue Flags given to the city.

The Murcia region also did well with Mistral beach in San Javier, La Puntica and Villanitos in San Pedro, and Carrión, El Espejo, La Concha, Las Palmeras, Los Narejos and Manzanares in Los Alcázares are all of the required standard to fly the “Q” flag.

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