This publication describes one way in which tourism is being better integrated with the coastal environment: the European Blue Flag campaign. Now a decade old, the Blue Flag campaign is an award system in which European beaches that fulfil a number of exacting criteria in relation to factors such as the quality of bathing water, cleanliness and safety are given the right to fly the Blue Flag. With the generous financial and moral support of the European Commission, this flag has become a European symbol of coastal environmental quality. It is much sought after by local authorities throughout Europe for the status it confers on them and the attraction it has for beach tourists. In 1995, 1463 European beaches were awarded Blue Flags.