Santiago del Teide raises the Q flags for Tourism Quality on the beaches of La Arena and Los Guíos.
Mayor Emilio Navarro and the Director General of ICTES, Fernando Fraile, participated in this event, which was also attended by the Councilor for Tourism, Luz Goretti Gorrín.
The beaches of La Arena and Los Guíos in Santiago del Teide, the only beaches in the entire province, now display the Q flags for Tourism Quality. These flags were raised at a ceremony led by Mayor Emilio Navarro, the Director General of ICTES (Institute for Spanish Tourism Quality and Sustainability), Fernando Fraile, and the Councilor for Tourism, Luz Goretti Gorrín. The Mayor of Santiago del Teide, Emilio Navarro, noted that "the two beaches in the municipality that hold the Q for Tourism Quality have been certified for three years. He said that it is a source of pride for the municipality, as well as a great responsibility to maintain these quality standards. He expressed his praise and gratitude to the local company West Coast Rescue SL, responsible for the maintenance of both beaches, for their good work."
For his part, the Director General of ICTES, Fernando Fraile, congratulated the Santiago del Teide City Council for its two Q certifications and thanked them for "their commitment to Certified Tourism Quality, because it requires working rigorously and passing a demanding external and independent audit." The Director General of ICTES added that "today is a day to be proud and to highlight the efforts this City Council is making to adapt to national and international market demands." When visitors see these flags, he said, "they will know that they are the result of intense and rigorous work."
Public Standards and Independent Audit
Given the confusion that can arise from the variety of flags flying on beaches, it is important to note that only the Q for Quality and S for Sustainability flags are the result of certification based on UNE and ISO standards, the only national and international organizations with public recognition for developing standards for any sector of economic activity. To obtain these certifications, it is essential to follow a rigorous process verified by independent auditors, that is, to pass a third-party audit with demanding criteria.
The Q for Quality flag, therefore, guarantees the correct implementation of a management system and represents compliance with quality standards. It is also a tourism promotion tool that provides prestige, differentiation, reliability, and rigor. Therefore, it has a significant impact on consumer perception and represents recognition from public authorities. For a beach or marina to display the Q Flag for Tourist Quality, it must carry out a process that guarantees compliance with the international quality standard UNE-ISO 13009, agreed upon by almost one hundred countries, to guarantee the highest quality in the provision of its services and the correct management of public facilities: cleaning and selective waste collection services, safety devices, rescue and first aid, tourist information services, access to the bathing area, toilets or leisure establishments, among others.