'Disgrace' on Greek holiday island as Brit tourists issued urgent warning

People generally picture crystal blue waters when they picture Greece (file photo)
-Credit: (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)


Greece, often associated with pristine white sandy beaches and crystal-clear Mediterranean waters, may soon lose this image as several of its beaches have been stripped of their quality marks. Alarm bells are ringing as 22 Greek beaches in various locations have lost their Blue Flag certification after surprise inspections by Greek and international teams.

These beaches no longer meet the standards for quality, safety, services, and environmental management, according to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature. Despite this, the swimming water quality remains top-notch as per the programme's standards, The Express reports. Beaches that have lost their flag include those in popular tourist hotspots such as Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos, and Corfu.

In Crete, the four beaches that lost their Blue Flag status are: Amnisos Beach of Hersonissos, Lerapetra 1 of Municipality of Ierapetra, Makrygialou Beach of Municipality of Ierapetra, and Myrtos Beach of Municipality of Ierapetra.

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Three beaches on the island of Naxos and the Halkidiki peninsula in northern Greece have been stripped of their Blue Flag status, with the remaining flags scattered across various regions of the country. The programme has warned that surprise inspections will continue across all awarded beaches in the country, with spot checks playing a crucial role in upholding the quality of Greek beaches, reports the Mirror.

If additional deficiencies are found, more beaches could risk losing their blue flag status.