Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - The National Water Commission recently announced that the 10th National Clean Beaches Meeting will be held in Puerto Vallarta from June 25 to 27, 2014. More than 700 participants from around the country are expected to attend.

The purpose of this meeting is to give recognition to various coastal tourist sites in the country for their outstanding efforts in maintaining optimum water quality, as well as the services provided to national and international populations.

Last year, during the 9th National Clean Beaches Meeting, the following beaches - Chahué in Huatulco, Oaxaca; El Palmar in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Guerrero; North Nuevo Vallarta, Bahia de Banderas, Nayarit; Delfines (Cancun) in Benito Juarez, Quintana Roo; and Chileno, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur - received "Blue Flag" recognition.

Blue Flag recognition is awarded to destinations that work towards sustainable development of beaches through strict criteria dealing with water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management, and safety & other services.

In addition, the National Committee awarded 'Clean Beach' certificates to La Roqueta, in Acapulco, Guerrero; Las Gaviotas, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa; Nuevo Vallarta Sur, Nuevo Vallarta Norte and Bucerías, in Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit; as well as Aventuras del DIF (Akumal), in Tulúm, Quintana Roo.

Given that Puerto Vallarta's Palmares Beach received Blue Flag certification earlier this month, it is fitting that our city was designated as the host of the X Encuentro Nacional de Playas Limpias. After receiving the Blue Flag, Puerto Vallarta Mayor, Ramón Guerrero Martínez, announced that two additional beaches, Playa Holi and Mismaloya, are being readied for certification. "We hope to become the Mexican municipality with the most certified beaches," he said.