The “Blue Flag” program leads an independent non-profit organization Foundation for Environmental Education, based in Copenhagen, where there is international coordination of the program.

The Blue Flag is a symbol of high environmental standards as well as high-quality sanitary and safety conditions at beaches and marinas. An integral part of the program is environmental education and informing the public, government and tourism stakeholders on environmental protection.

The program covers about 50 countries, and Greece is by the number of beaches with Blue Flag in year of 2016 ranked as the third in the world with 430 award-winning beaches. In the context of Greece, Halkidiki region is awarded with the greatest number of beaches, a total of 52, while the front runner among the islands is Crete, where even 102 beaches have been awarded with this mark. The Blue Flag has been flying on Thasos at 4 beaches since the past season.

Awarded beaches:

Tasos:

1. Golden beach
2. Makriammos
3. Pefkari
4. Dasilio

Sithonia:

1. Sarti
2. Sikia
3. Toroni
4. Nikiti
5. Platanitsi
6. Porto Karras 1
7. Elia
8. Makria Lagada
9. Lagomandra
10. Marmaras C
11. Livrohio (Tranni Ammouda)
12. Marmaras B
13. Armenistis
14. Porto Karras 2

Cassandra:

1. Kriopigi 2
2. Kriopigi 4
3. Fourka
4. Polichrono 3
5. Hanioti 1
6. Hanioti 3
7. Sani 2
8. Sani 3

Lefkada:

1. Ai Giannis
2. Lefkada (Gira)
3. Ag. Nikita
4. Kathisma 1
5. Porto Katsiki
6. Nidri
7. Mikros Gialos
8. Ponti

Thessaloniki region:

1. Asprovalta
2. Paralia Vrasna
3. Nea Vrasna
4. Porto Fino
5. Seraiki Akti
6. Stavros central beach
7. Stavros east beach
8. Stavros western beach
9. Ag. Triada
10. Nei Epivates
11. Perea
12. Potamos

Skiathos:

1. Koukounaries
2. Maratha