Once again this summer, we can see the Blue Flags flying in Mijas, and this year, not just four but five. The flag at Calahonda-Riviera joins those that for several seasons have proudly flown at the beaches of Calahonda-Royal Beach-La Luna, El Bombo, El Chaparral, and La Cala. The mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), was in charge of raising this flag, accompanied by the councillors for Beaches and Tourism, Daniel Gómez Teruel (PP) and Francisco Jerez (Vox), respectively, as well as representatives from the town's tourism sector. Speaking from Calahonda-Riviera beach, the mayoress highlighted, “today we are precisely at a point where, since 2017, there had not been a flag that guaranteed or endorsed all the standards we must work on every day of the year to keep our beaches in perfect condition. This shows that this year we have done things better. Furthermore, we will not stop; we are aiming for a sixth”.

 

These flags have come to Mijas after meeting the strict quality control standards for water, environmental management, safety, information, and accessibility of the coastline set by ADEAC, the Association for Environmental Education and Consumer Education, which is responsible for awarding these distinctions. "We are one of the most awarded municipalities and this is thanks to our tireless work 365 days a year, working non-stop to keep the coastline in perfect condition. Every year the audits become more selective and are much harder to pass. Getting a flag is difficult, maintaining it is even more difficult and regaining it is even harder. We have given the auditors enough confidence to award us this Blue Flag distinction at Riviera, which is very positive for the entire municipality", said Gómez Teruel.

 

These are not the only distinctions that define the Mijas coastline. Its beaches, added the Councillor for Beaches, have once again been awarded the "nine Q for Quality flags and the S for Sustainability, the Coastal Path has been awarded the Blue Trail and the Torreón de La Cala has once again obtained the Blue Centre certification" thanks to the Watchtowers Interpretation Centre. These certificates guarantee that the Mijas coastline is "safe, accessible and sustainable", said the councillor for Tourism, who also stated that "the Blue Flags are a mark of quality for everyone who visits us and perceives the Mijas coastline as a benchmark on the Costa del Sol. Increasing the number of flags, and regaining the one that was lost years ago, provides reassurance for those who visit us".

 

From the hotel sector, they say these flags are an important factor to consider in their forecasts. The vice president of Aehcos in Mijas, Juan Miguel Marcos, said that "for all hoteliers in Mijas, it is very important that the beaches are a benchmark. The fact that we have increased from four to five blue flags serves as a reminder that Mijas is a very, very rich municipality, where we must not forget that we have magnificent beaches like this one".

Behind these distinctions, they say, there is a great deal of networking involving agents from the Beaches, Environment, Cleanliness and Security departments, and of course, the beach bar owners themselves. "Beach bars and their collaboration with the Town Hall, Security and Environment are essential. I believe we deserve it. We lost this flag a few years ago, but this year we have regained it and I think that is due to good teamwork", said the delegate of the Mijas Beach Business Association, Carlos Morales.

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