The Tourism Authority will be managing St George’s Bay (photo), the first Blue Flag beach, during 2008, together with the perched beach at Bugibba and Mellieha Bay, aiming to also acquire the same status for the latter two, Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said.

He was speaking at an activity held as part of the Save the Seas Campaign 2007, adding it was everyone’s duty to maintain beaches in Malta and Gozo properly. It would, for instance, be a great step forward for everyone not to discard rubbish on beaches or on the sand, and dispose of it in the rubbish containers provided.

The sea was a means of livelihood, with six out of every 10 tourists coming here to enjoy the sun and go diving.

This was why it was so important to keep the beaches and sea clean.