Regaining Blue Flag status in PE

This year, Humewood Beach located in Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth lost its accredited blue flag status, an international eco-label given to beaches across the globe that meets excellence in the areas of safety, amenities, cleanliness and environmental standards.  Deemed a loss and a concern for the Nelson Mandela Bay tourism industry, five major hotels in Summerstand – Radisson Blu Hotel PE¸ The Paxton, Protea Marine Hotel, The Summerstand and Garden Court – are looking at partnering with Nelson Mandela Bay to clean up the city’s beach to reinstate its future status.

Clive van Oudtshoorn, GM of the Radisson Blu Hotel PE adds, “Blue status beaches are a huge draw card in the international tourism industry.  To assist, all five hotels will be focussing their attention on upgrading and maintaining the ablution facilities along the Humewood beachfront.  Currently, we are in the process of assessing each facility, and developing a refurbishment programme to maintain these facilities to ensure that our beach is in pristine condition for local and international tourists. Having said this, these facilities are only a contributing factor, they represents one of the 32 different criteria required to secure our blue flag status. Presently, our major concern is the bacteria count in the water and would appreciate any assistance, as this is clearly not in our scope of speciality. ”