Role of the community in the granting of blue flag certification at Tombo beach (Guarujá, Brazil)

Abstract

In 2009, Tombo Beach in Guarujá (Brazil) received Blue Flag Certification, an ecological seal granted to beaches that meet environmental conservation requirements. Tombo Beach’s certification was the third in the program’s history in Brazil. Started in 1987, the Blue Flag Program is one of the most critical ecological seals created for the sustainable development of beaches and marinas that adopt careful water quality treatment, environmental education and information, environmental management, security, and other services. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of the requirements above by visitors to Tombo Beach to determine their participation in maintaining certification. To this end, structured questionnaires were used in interviews carried out in April in Tombo Beach, resulting in 300 interviews. Analysis of the data obtained through interviews (n=300) indicated restricted knowledge on the part of attendees regarding the requirements set out in the Blue Flag Program, demonstrating critical deficiencies, especially about environmental education programs. Furthermore, we sought to discuss the benefits of certification in increasing the attraction of visitors to disseminate the culture of accreditation on Brazilian beaches.