The award ceremony for this year’s blue flags to 68 beaches took place on Thursday in Neo Chorio in Paphos.

Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis, who awarded the flags to representatives of the local authorities, said that in the last few days there have been excellent news for the beaches of Cyprus.

He said Cyprus ranked first in Europe as regards the quality of beaches and quality of its seawater. The island was also in the top rankings for blue flags, he added.

Most blue flag beaches in Cyprus are in the Ayia Napa municipality (15 beaches), followed by the Paralimni municipality with 12 beaches, Ayios Tychonas with 7 and Paphos with 6.