In 2025, 64 beaches and two marinas in Cyprus were awarded the Blue Flag.
To celebrate this achievement, a ceremony was held on Wednesday 4 June at Fig Tree Bay in Protaras. Maria Panayiotou, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, attended the event.
In her speech, Ms Panayiotou emphasised that the Blue Flag is the most recognised international quality mark for beaches and marine infrastructure, and is only awarded to locations that meet strict criteria.
This achievement is highly significant for Cyprus.
"The Blue Flag is not just a beautiful symbol, but confirmation of the highest standards. It is awarded to sites that demonstrate impeccable bathing water quality, safety, environmental management, accessibility and cleanliness. In addition, strict compliance with 33 criteria for beaches and 38 for marinas is required,” she emphasised.
The minister paid special attention to the municipality of Paralimni-Deryneia, which received a record 18 Blue Flags this year. The list of the best beaches in the region includes: Armiropigado, Lombardi, Kapparis, Glyki Nero, Skoutarospilia, Agia Triada, Minas, Vrisoudia, Luma, Pernera, Potami, Vrizi A, Vrizi B and Vrizi C, Protaras (Fig Tree Bay), Vizakia, Nissia Garden and Nissia. Interestingly, Konnos Beach, 80% of which is within the municipal boundaries of Paralimni-Deryneia, received the Blue Flag award but was included in the Ayia Napa list.
During the ceremony, the mayor of Paralimni-Deryneia, Yiorgos Nikoletos, noted the historical significance of Fig Tree Bay, where Cyprus' Blue Flag story began. He stressed that his municipality remains a leader thanks to its consistent environmental policy, quality infrastructure, and sustainable development.
Our 22 organised beaches, stretching 20 km, are the engine of the local economy and the foundation of our tourist appeal. We are proud that 18 of them have been awarded Blue Flags," he added.
Ayia Napa came second in 2025 in terms of the number of Blue Flags, with 16 beaches in the region receiving the award.
The next highest numbers were achieved by the municipalities of Amatus (9), Paphos (6), Geroskipou (3), Larnaca (3) and Akamas (2). Seven more beaches belonging to various public councils, as well as the marinas of Limassol and Ayia Napa, also received awards.
Cyprus has thus once again proven that it remains one of Europe's leading countries for beach holidays. This is particularly true of Paralimni-Deryneia, which is steadily strengthening its reputation as a top tourist destination.
The Blue Flag is an annual award given to beaches that meet 33 criteria set by the international Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The main criteria are area, information, water cleanliness and safety for the entire ecosystem.
The Blue Flag eco-programme originated in France in 1985 and spread across Europe within two years. Visitors began to enjoy Blue Flag beaches, and city authorities, together with hotels and other establishments located on these beaches, started to actively participate in the programme. In 2001, the programme became international. The Blue Flag is awarded for one season only and can be withdrawn at any time if one of the criteria is not met. For instance, after a storm, beach workers must clean up all debris before raising the flag.