SEMINAR ON TOURISM AND ECOLOGY OPENS IN DUBROVNIK

DUBROVNIK, Nov 7 (Hina) - A two-day seminar on the European project on tourism and ecology "Blue Flag" opened in Dubrovnik (southern Croatia), on Friday. Only the beaches and marinas which meet the numerous strict criteria have the right to display the prestigious "Blue Flag", which stands for supreme tourist promotion, based on high-quality service, clean sea water, beaches and marinas. The "Blue Flag" project has been implemented for ten years throughout Europe. In 1998, 1,927 beaches and 527 marinas from 19 European countries were awarded the "Blue Flag". The "Punat" marina on the island of Krk (northern Adriatic) and beaches in Crikvenica (northern Adriatic), Baska and Brela (southern Adriatic) were awarded the "Blue Flag" for 1998. The purpose of the seminar is to inform the public about the "Blue Flag" project and give instructions for the preparation of Croatian beaches and marinas which will run for the award in the next tourist season, said Ante Kutle, president of the environmental movement "Lijepa Nasa" and president of the European foundation for environmental education (FEEE) in Croatia. The meeting is attended by some 30 representatives from Croatia as well as by a member of the FEEE executive committee and mentor for Croatia, Alice Vavouris, and a representative of the European "Blue Flag" coordination, Finn Bolding Thomsen. The seminar, organised by the "Lijepa Nasa" movement, with support from the State Administration for Environmental Protection, was welcomed by Assistant Tourism Minister Velimir Simicic. (hina) rml