MORE than 50 beaches across the country received their Blue Flag statuses recently, however, once again no beaches within the eThekwini metropolitan were listed.

While beaches to the north and south gained pilot and Blue Flag statuses, eThekwini still has a way to go despite improving on sewage overflows and maintenance of and upgrades of its sewerage infrastructure.

Blue Flag is an international environmental award programme recognising beaches, marinas and tourism boards that meet high standards for environmental management, water quality, safety, accessibility and environmental education.

Umhlanga’s beaches are still seen as the jewel in the crown of tourism in Durban.

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Locals and tourism bodies remain hopeful that uMhlanga can one day regain Blue Flag status like uMhlanga Main Beach had done in 2020.

One person who believes this is chairperson of Umhlanga Toursim, Naomi Crous.

“The beaches in uMhlanga are one of our greatest natural assets, complemented by our iconic lighthouse and beautiful promenade. We certainly believe uMlanga has the potential to regain Blue Flag status. However, this will require a concerted effort from the municipality and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that water quality, beach facilities, cleanliness and safety consistently meet the required standards. Our beaches deserve this recognition, and it should be a shared goal to work towards,” she said.

Crous added Main and Bronze beaches, the two swimming beaches along uMhlanga, are undoubtedly a major draw card.

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“We are a family-friendly coastal destination with excellent accommodation, restaurants, shopping centres, nature experiences, golf and a vibrant events calendar. It is this combination of our beautiful coastline, hospitality and diverse experiences that makes Umhlanga attractive to both local and international visitors,” she said.

Jaya Naidoo, the general manager of the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa (FEDHASA), concurred with Crous, saying a Blue Flag status impacted on holidaymakers’ choices.

“Blue Flag status definitely impacts on tourism. FEDHASA firmly believes that clean, safe and well-managed beaches play an important role in holidaymakers’ choice of destination. Visitors want reassurance that they and their families can enjoy the coastline with confidence, and Blue Flag status provides a recognised benchmark. A hotel may offer outstanding rooms, food and service, but the quality of nearby beaches also shapes their overall experience. Concerns about pollution, beach closures or poorly maintained facilities can influence visitors to choose another destination. The absence of Blue Flag accreditation does not automatically mean that a beach is unsafe. However, it removes a recognised assurance that can strengthen a destination’s appeal,” he said.

Naidoo added the Blue Flag status provides a credible benchmark for beach management and helps build confidence among visitors and residents.

Some of the beaches on the KZN with Blue Flag status

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