The Blue Flag status remains the international gold standard for quality beaches, and on Monday, 28 October 2024, it was announced that the KZN South Coast has retained its position of having the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in the province. This bodes extremely well for the festive season, with the KZN South Coast anticipating a high number of tourists looking for a quality season destination.
The region welcomes one new beach earning full Blue Flag status, and one a special certificate for consecutive years in the programme. Of the 48 beaches announced in the Blue Flag Programme, 7 are found on the KZN South Coast, with a further 5 retaining Blue Flag Pilot status, underscoring the region’s commitment to international water standards.
The announcement, made by WESSA (The Wildlife and Environmental Society of South Africa) at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, was well received by SCTIE as it reinforces the region as a top seaside destination. It also speaks to the region’s bold festive season campaign ‘Embrace summer!’ and highlights why now’s the time to visit the KZN South Coast.
“We are so proud to have received notification that the KZN South Coast, once again, boasts the highest number of Blue Flag beaches in KZN, with even more added to the programme,” commented the CEO of South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE), Dr Vusumuzi Sibiya.
“This is a testament to how seriously we view the quality of our beaches which are one of the region’s biggest tourism attractions and a significant contributor to the local tourism economy. Alongside the work being done by municipalities, we must applaud initiatives such as Tidy Towns and Keep Scottburgh Beautiful which have bolstered beach cleanliness and safety. We encourage holidaymakers to consider this when planning their seaside holidays over the festive season and look forward to having our visitors ‘embrace summer’!”
Beaches that have achieved the international certification of Blue Flag have adhered to the Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) strict standards of environmental management. These include water quality, safety, and public environmental education – all of which are assessed by a South African National Jury and a Blue Flag International Jury in Europe.
In South Africa, WESSA has been locally managing this globally recognised eco-label in partnership FEE since 2001. While the Blue Flag is a voluntary programme, it shows a very strong commitment to environmental sustainability from municipalities that are awarded.
One KZN South Coast beach, Trafalgar, earned a certificate for 15 consecutive years in the programme in 2024, while Marina Beach celebrates 21 consecutive years in the Blue Flag programme. The KZN South Coast also has 5 beaches in the Blue Flag Pilot programme, indicating continued commitment to conservation, health, and safety.
The KZN South Coast Blue Flag Beaches 2024/2025
1. Marina Beach – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
2. Trafalgar Beach – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
3. Southport Beach – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
4. Umzumbe Beach – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
5. Ramsgate Beach – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
6. Hibberdene Beach – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
7. Pennington Beach – Umdoni Municipality
The KZN South Coast Blue Flag Pilot Beaches 2024/2025
1. Rocky Bay Beach – Umdoni Municipality
2. Preston Beach – Umdoni Municipality
3. Umthwalume Beach – Umdoni Municipality
4. Scottburgh Beach – Umdoni Municipality
5. St Michael’s Beach – Ray Nkonyeni Municipality
“Today, we celebrate beaches, marinas, and tourism boat operators that have met the stringent requirements for Blue Flag and Green Coast status, as well as the passionate people behind these efforts,” said WESSA CEO Cindy-Lee Cloete at the announcement.
“WESSA’s Blue Flag and Green Coast Programmes work collaboratively with these partners to address critical environmental issues affecting coastal environmental management, sustainable coastal tourism, and the well-being of people who enjoy these ecosystems. These initiatives, inspire responsible tourism and showcase the vital role communities play in caring for our natural spaces.”
Alongside the Blue Flag beaches, the KZN South Coast boasts the highest number of tidal pools in the province, and two world-renowned dive sites – Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks – two of the three Marine Protected Areas found in the region. Surfing, kiteboarding, stand-up paddling, fishing, and rock pool exploring are just some of the great seaside activities families can enjoy here.
Embrace Summer on the KZN South Coast!
The incredible KZN South Coast continues to lead as a destination of choice because of its diverse and unmatched tourism offerings. Head inland for hiking, biking, and 4×4 adventures in the great outdoors with the many nature reserves ideal sites for picnics and birdwatching. Up the speed with some motorsports action at Dezzi Raceway, or indulge in the many cultural and heritage experiences found here. Discover the region’s farming gems with an agri-rural outing that includes sampling fresh produce and adventure activities. And, for the business sector, there is no better place than the KZN South Coast which is considered a top MICE (Meetings | Incentives | Conventions | Events) destination.
Find out more by visiting the KZN South Coast website; following South Coast Tourism on Facebook; South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise on YouTube; @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram; and South Coast Tourism & Investment Enterprise on LinkedIn; and downloading the ‘Explore KZN South Coast’ app. Click here to check out previous SCTIE press releases. Watch why KZN South Coast is a top tourism destination here. Check out the latest Southern Explorer Route Guide for the KZN South Coast here.
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Author: Agnes Matladi from Olivia Jones Communications on behalf of SCTIE.
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