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14TH - 20TH MAY 2019 - EDITION 787
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11Blue Flags for Orihuela Costa The Municipal Department for Beaches, headed by Orihuela Councillor Luisa Boné, announced that Orihuela Costa will receive 11 Blue Flags, that is all
its beaches in 2019 for the second year in a row. The Blue Flags are considered to be the high tourist standard for meeting criteria such as water quality standards, cleanliness of the beaches, adequate public information system and a good lifeguard rescue service. Likewise, this year the efforts of the Municipal Department of Beaches were especially recognised in improving accessibility for people with disabilities. Luisa Boné rated these awards very positively as great efforts had to be made in 2018 to maintain this highest level of quality. The Councillor for Beaches recalled that "it was a complicated year because we had to renew the contract for the seasonal beach bar services because the former city government was involved in scandals in regard to this contract. We had to take care of some services, the provision of which was normally the responsibility of the winner of the tender, but since the contract was not renewed, we had to take care of it." At that time, seasonal services were initially delayed, leading to criticism that Boné considers "unjustified and which we now consider excessive, since the contract with the beach bars, which is in place, will bring much more benefits to locals and holiday makers alike. The new contract provides
Luisa Bone
clear advantages for the supplier, as well as for the municipal cash register, which is confirmed by the independent agency Adeac. The management of the beaches was successfully carried out by the Municipal Department of Beaches despite all the circumstances and this is reflected with the retention of the quality mark Blue Flags." The renewal of the eleven blue flags on all eleven beaches, as well as that of the marina in Dehesa de Campoamor, means for the second time in the history of the municipality of Orihuela, to have got all possible flags, Luisa Boné emphasised. She continued "this shows the seriousness and willingness to fulfil our obligations since we took over the Municipal Department of Beaches in 2017." The City Councillor concluded: "It is necessary to thank the work of the whole team, which has enabled Orihuela to be a point of reference both at
national and international level. Orihuela ranks second in the ranking of cities with the most Blue Flags in Spain, and our city is an international reference point for outstanding quality and performance standards, both in terms of environmental conditions and services provided. Luisa Boné thanked in particular the staff of the Municipal Department of Beaches, Infrastructure, Tourism, the Environment and Municipal Garbage Collection, whose great efforts were made to promote the beaches of Orihuela internationally."
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