site.btaSveti Vlas Central Beach Retains Prestigious Blue Flag Status

Sveti Vlas Central Beach has once again been awarded the international Blue Flag eco-label in 2026, reaffirming its status as one of Bulgaria’s best-maintained beaches, Venid Beach concessionaire manager Georgi Chapkanov told BTA.

He welcomed the recognition, noting that Blue Flag standards are applied consistently and allow local beaches to benchmark themselves against global best practices. Chapkanov emphasized that the award is both an honor and a responsibility, reflecting ongoing investments in infrastructure and maintenance.

The beach is a multiple Blue Flag recipient. The certification is awarded only to beaches meeting strict environmental and cleanliness criteria. Of Bulgaria’s 26 Blue Flag beaches, three are located in Sveti Vlas.

Chapkanov pointed out that sea water quality is tested twice monthly, while regular disinfection, waste management, and accessible facilities help maintain high standards, adding that inspections have consistently rated the beach highly and assured visitors that it is clean and safe.

Blue Flag is a voluntary certification programme of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international organization with members from over 80 countries. It has operated for nearly 40 years, annually evaluating and certifying beaches, marinas, and tourism vessels. Currently, around 5,200 sites worldwide participate in the programme, including Bulgarian beaches and marinas.

BTA will present all 32 Bulgarian beaches and ports awarded with the Blue Flag in 2026 by the international jury of the Copenhagen Programme. The first Blue Flag in Bulgaria was raised on Sunny Beach on July 4, 1995.