July 5 (BTA) - For a second year in a row, Arkutino has received the Blue Flag Award, the management of the beach told BTA. Blue Flag is a world environmental certificate awarded to beaches meeting a number of quality criteria, including clean water. "Since this is the most prestigious world beach ecolabel and since we meet all the criteria, we applied for a second season running," the management explained.

The concessionaire sees the award as a positive sign, coming as it does from an international foundation. "It builds holidaymakers' trust and attracts their interest, and a clean and well kept beach makes a very good impression. We have always maintained a high standard, so it was not difficult to meet the requirements of the programme, but this year, too, we focus on the enhanced measures we are taking against the spread of the coronavirus," the beach managers said.

They insist that Arkutino is Bulgaria's most romantic beach. It also offers an excellent view of one of the five Black Sea islands: Sveti Toma (aka the Snake Island).

The Arkutino Swamp (remarkable for its water lilies, duckweed and yellow water lilies) is near the beach. Other landmarks worth visiting in the area include the Beglik Tash megalithic sanctuary, the Ropotamo River, the Veleka River and Lake Pomorie.

The other 12 Bulgarian Black Sea beaches that have been awarded a Blue Flag certificate are Golden Sands, Sunny Day, Sunny Beach North, Sunny Beach Central, Sunny Beach South, Nessebar South, Pomorie East, Sozopol Central, Sozopol Harmanite, Duni, Duni South, and Sveti Vlas New. Marina Dinevi is the only marina with a Blue Flag certificate.

BTA is running a series of features about them all. NV/BR/LG