From blue flags to ecolabels, how green are your beach holidays?
The Mediterranean is one of the world's favourite destinations, attracting one third of global tourists. However, its ecosystems are under growing pressure from the same sector that fuels its economy.
In 2023 alone, the EU recorded 1.1 billion tourist nights, with Italy and Spain leading the way.
It is easy to see why. European coasts offer more than just sea breeze. According to the European Union's 2024 bathing water assessment, more than 85% of Europe's bathing waters were rated 'excellent', with Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Greece topping the charts.
But while the activities that draw people to the coast depend on clean and intact environments, tourists often leave places more polluted than they found them.
A 2024 study published in the international journal Nature says that tourism's carbon emissions have grown at twice the rate of the global economy, and now account for 8.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Coastal tourists leave a trace of pollution behind
'In some hotspots, around 75% of annual waste is generated during the summer season', says Chloé Martin, Sustainable Tourism Programme Manager at Plan Bleu, the French activity centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme.
From the skies to the seafloor, every tourist leaves a mark on the environment. Martin points out that air travel, accommodation, and plastic waste are the main ecological concerns associated with coastal tourism.
As tourism adapts to climate change, how can travellers make more sustainable choices?
Climate change is projected to have a profound impact on beach tourism and challenge the industry's resilience, according to the EU Blue Economy Report 2025.
Rising seas, hotter summers, and more frequent extreme weather events are reshaping the physical environment, ecosystems, and amenities that underpin coastal tourism.
This can damage the reputation of many destinations, which is why sustainability and adaptability to climate change are now crucial for many seaside travel companies today.
But as the promotion of ecolabels and sustainability certifications increases, how can travellers tell what is truly green and what is simply greenwashing?
According to the European Commission, 53% of green claims in the EU are vague or misleading.
'They are used so much that people stop believing them,' warns Patricia Puig, a specialist in marine conservation and founder of Oceanogami, a Spanish consultancy company focused on ocean responsibility.
Martin recommends that travellers check whether the issuing body is a private company or an independent public body, and whether the requirements are clear and publicly available, based on international standards that undergo regular verification.
What to look out for on whale or dolphin watching tours?
When booking a wildlife-watching tour, it is key to research beforehand.
'If you look at the promotional pictures of the company and you see a tourist touching an animal, that's not responsible', warns Puig.
When anchoring a boat, a responsible company would prefer to stabilise the vessel by attaching it to a buoy where possible, rather than always anchoring in the sand, explains Puig, to prevent damaging the seabed. It is also advisable to keep a distance from the animals.
How to snorkel and dive responsibly?
'We are guests in the marine environment', says Puig, reminding travellers that touching marine animals or plants can spread diseases and disrupt ecosystems.
Even seemingly harmless actions, like removing pieces of coral as souvenirs, can cause lasting damage and should never be encouraged, especially by companies claiming to be sustainable.
To enjoy these activities consciously, Puig recommends choosing certified operators that work with marine biologists and offer tours to small groups, thereby reducing environmental pressure. She also suggests using reef-safe sunscreen.
And jet skiing?
Jet skis disturb wildlife with noise and emissions. Some countries, such as Greece and Italy, are already limiting or banning the use of motorised watercraft in coastal areas to protect both wildlife and coastal communities.
'Underwater noise is very impactful for any organism, including invertebrates, corals, and fish', Puig told Euronews. Slowing down can significantly reduce harm to wildlife.
Do you want to be sure that your sea holidays are really eco-friendly?
Watch the video to find out more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Euronews
New report reveals which European beaches tourists regret visiting
Every year, millions flock to Europe's most popular beach destinations, dreaming of an idyllic escape. But for many, reality falls short of the picture-perfect hype. According to a new report from cloud tech company Cloudwards, European beaches are among the most complained-about in the world – especially when it comes to overcrowding. The findings are based on TripAdvisor reviews of 200 of the world's most visited beaches, analysed using keyword filters to identify the most frequent grievances. From tightly packed sands in Sardinia to Greece's round-the-clock parties, the report reveals the disconnect between the Instagram‑worthy images we find online and what people actually experience when they get there. Europe dominates the global list for overcrowding If you've ever walked a kilometre to find a bare patch of sand or shared the sea with a flotilla of inflatable unicorns, this won't come as a shock: eight of the ten most criticised beaches for overcrowding are in Europe. The UK's Bournemouth Beach 'topped' the list among European nations, ranking fifth overall globally, with frequent remarks about its cleanliness and crowds. But few European countries fare worse than Italy when it comes to overcrowding. Sardinia's La Pelosa – a stunning spit of sand surrounded by turquoise waters in the island's northwest – topped the global chart for overcrowding complaints, with nearly 87 per cent of negative reviews mentioning crowd-related issues. 'It was a weekday morning in mid-September yet the crowds resembled central London/New York/Sydney on New Year's Eve,' wrote one La Pelosa reviewer. Spiaggia La Cinta, a five-kilometre stretch of white sand surrounded by junipers and dunes on Sardinia's east coast, took second in this category. Just behind Sardinia's beachy jewels came Portugal's Praia da Falésia – known for its golden sands and looming cliffs – and Ibiza's Cala Comte and tiny Konnos Bay in Cyprus, often described as 'a little slice of island paradise' despite the cramped conditions. Greek beaches among the dirtiest and noisiest – and most popular Greece fared better than some destinations when it came to overcrowding but stood out in other categories. Balos Lagoon in Crete ranked 26th overall and seventh globally for dirtiness, with nearly half its complaints citing cleanliness, and 40 per cent citing overcrowding. Elafonissi, another beloved Cretan beach known for its pink-hued sands and shallow waters, came in as the seventh most complained about beach globally. More than 70 per cent of its negative reviews mentioned overcrowding, though few mentioned noise or dirtiness. Porto Katsiki, a postcard-ready beach on Lefkada Island in the Ionian Sea, landed in the global top ten for noise and disruption. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the World's 50 Best Beaches also ranked it number 36 in 2025, illustrating how surging popularity can create outsized pressures on ecological landmarks. How the rankings were compiled Cloudwards analysed more than 1.3 million TripAdvisor reviews of 200 beaches around the world. They filtered negative reviews for keywords related to four main complaint categories: dirtiness, overcrowding, long queues and noise. Each beach was then given a complaint score from 0 to 100, based on the frequency of those keywords. The higher the score, the more common the complaints. That makes it even more jarring to see iconic destinations like Waikiki Beach in Hawaii receive a perfect 100 – for all the wrong reasons. A wave of regulation could manage tourism pressure Many of these destinations suffer from the same mix of factors: limited stretches of prime shoreline, peak-season congestion and viral social media fame that has outpaced infrastructure and put strain on local communities. Some of the beaches flagged in the report are already taking steps to address overtourism and preserve their fragile environments – and maybe their reputations. Sardinia has led the way in Europe with a slate of summer policies aimed at reducing damage to its most popular seaside spots. These include daily visitor caps, mandatory advance bookings and, in some cases, bans on bringing towels to prevent sand erosion. In Greece, a new €20 entry fee was introduced in 2025 for cruise passengers visiting congested island hotspots such as Mykonos and Santorini. Spain, meanwhile, has banned booze on some beaches and introduced fines to curb bad behaviour. It's all part of a wider reckoning with overtourism across Europe, from its cities to its seas. This summer, the golden promise of a perfect beach holiday is being tested by crowds, chaos and the growing gap between expectation and experience. In an era of filtered photos and viral fame, even paradise might have a breaking point.
Fashion Network
6 hours ago
- Fashion Network
UK shopper spend in EU "soaring" due to tax-free shopping says retail body
AIR and 500 businesses, including those at all price levels from Burberry to Primark, are again calling for government ministers to reinstate tax-free shopping for international visitors and make the UK 'the shopping capital of the world'. AIR data shows that Britons spent £742 million on VAT-free shopping in the EU in 2024. That compares to £147 million in 2021, £527 million in 2022, and £646 million in 2023. And this fast growth is continuing in 2025 with spending in the first 22 weeks up 16% on the same period in 2024. Further AIR findings show that France has become the most popular EU destination for British VAT-free shoppers, attracting 35% of all spending, with Paris accounting for 75% of this. While the last government scrapped tax-free shopping for tourists in the UK at the start of 2021, it noted EU countries extended it to British shoppers for the first time. The figures suggest that 'as a consequence, Britons are increasingly shunning homegrown stores and travelling abroad to make significant purchases where they can reclaim sales tax', AIR said. It believes the findings 'will increase pressure on ministers to reintroduce tax rebates for all international visitors – both EU and non-EU – to put British businesses back on a level playing field'. Reversing the current policy would, according to AIR's analysis, mean the new market for EU consumers alone would supercharge the national economy by over £3.65 billion a year, create 73,000 new jobs across the country, boost regions of the UK by £1.8 billion a year and generate over £500 million in additional VAT alone for the Treasury. Derrick Hardman, chair of AIR, said: 'The disproportionate increase in British visitor numbers to the EU show that a new market in shopping-led tourism has emerged. 'It's sad to see British shoppers taking their business elsewhere. But they have worked out that the tax rebates they can get on the Continent more than outweigh the costs of hopping on the Eurostar or taking a cheap short-haul flight somewhere. 'It makes no sense for the UK to remain the only destination in Europe not offering tax-free shopping. Thanks to our position outside the EU, we now have a unique chance to reverse the policy of the last government and become the world's shopping capital – offering tax rebates for both EU and non-EU shoppers. 'All the evidence shows that reintroducing a tax-free shopping scheme would more than pay for itself thanks to all the spending stimulated not just in retailers but on hotels, restaurants, transport, tourist attractions and entertainment. 'This Government has promised to pull every lever available to promote growth – here is an obvious one.' Helen Brocklebank, CEO of luxury body Walpole, added: 'Every pound spent by British and international tourists in Europe instead of the UK threatens growth, denies the Exchequer revenue and undermines the competitiveness of our retailers, manufacturers, hospitality businesses and iconic brands. 'As the sector body representing Britain's high-value manufacturing and services industries, which export British excellence worldwide and support 450,000 jobs and £25.5 billion in tax revenues, we are calling for a simple reversal of the previous government's policy. This would allow the UK to share in future growth, keep our towns, cities and tourism hubs globally competitive, and ensure businesses of all sizes can trade on equal terms with their European counterparts.'
Fashion Network
6 hours ago
- Fashion Network
UK shopper spend in EU "soaring" due to tax-free shopping says retail body
AIR and 500 businesses, including those at all price levels from Burberry to Primark, are again calling for government ministers to reinstate tax-free shopping for international visitors and make the UK 'the shopping capital of the world'. AIR data shows that Britons spent £742 million on VAT-free shopping in the EU in 2024. That compares to £147 million in 2021, £527 million in 2022, and £646 million in 2023. And this fast growth is continuing in 2025 with spending in the first 22 weeks up 16% on the same period in 2024. Further AIR findings show that France has become the most popular EU destination for British VAT-free shoppers, attracting 35% of all spending, with Paris accounting for 75% of this. While the last government scrapped tax-free shopping for tourists in the UK at the start of 2021, it noted EU countries extended it to British shoppers for the first time. The figures suggest that 'as a consequence, Britons are increasingly shunning homegrown stores and travelling abroad to make significant purchases where they can reclaim sales tax', AIR said. It believes the findings 'will increase pressure on ministers to reintroduce tax rebates for all international visitors – both EU and non-EU – to put British businesses back on a level playing field'. Reversing the current policy would, according to AIR's analysis, mean the new market for EU consumers alone would supercharge the national economy by over £3.65 billion a year, create 73,000 new jobs across the country, boost regions of the UK by £1.8 billion a year and generate over £500 million in additional VAT alone for the Treasury. Derrick Hardman, chair of AIR, said: 'The disproportionate increase in British visitor numbers to the EU show that a new market in shopping-led tourism has emerged. 'It's sad to see British shoppers taking their business elsewhere. But they have worked out that the tax rebates they can get on the Continent more than outweigh the costs of hopping on the Eurostar or taking a cheap short-haul flight somewhere. 'It makes no sense for the UK to remain the only destination in Europe not offering tax-free shopping. Thanks to our position outside the EU, we now have a unique chance to reverse the policy of the last government and become the world's shopping capital – offering tax rebates for both EU and non-EU shoppers. 'All the evidence shows that reintroducing a tax-free shopping scheme would more than pay for itself thanks to all the spending stimulated not just in retailers but on hotels, restaurants, transport, tourist attractions and entertainment. 'This Government has promised to pull every lever available to promote growth – here is an obvious one.' Helen Brocklebank, CEO of luxury body Walpole, added: 'Every pound spent by British and international tourists in Europe instead of the UK threatens growth, denies the Exchequer revenue and undermines the competitiveness of our retailers, manufacturers, hospitality businesses and iconic brands. 'As the sector body representing Britain's high-value manufacturing and services industries, which export British excellence worldwide and support 450,000 jobs and £25.5 billion in tax revenues, we are calling for a simple reversal of the previous government's policy. This would allow the UK to share in future growth, keep our towns, cities and tourism hubs globally competitive, and ensure businesses of all sizes can trade on equal terms with their European counterparts.'
