Certification Standard for the Sustainable Management & Development Blue Invest in Mediterranean 24/01/2019 Malta Certification Standard for the Sustainable Management & Development of Mediterranean Beaches

Our Team… Vasilis Zisimopoulos CEO – Founder Athina Kypriotaki Beng Mechanical Engineer, MSc Athina Kypriotaki PR Manager BSc Psycology, MSc Elli Syfaki Economic Analysis Consultant BSc in Economics, MSc Dimitris Poursanidis Scientific Consultant PhD Marine Ecology Nikos Stivaktakis IT & New Technologies Department BSc in Computer Science, MSc

The Problem… Habitat destruction and biodiversity loss. Substandard beach waste management. Pollution of seawaters close to the shore. Overpricing & Poor services provided. No beach access to people with special needs. Bathers may exceeds carrying capacity. Not well maintained beach facilities. No proper beach signage for the potential dangers, resulting in several drownings every summer. Every summer 200 millions tourists are visiting Mediterranean Sea. Until 2025 => 355 millions every summer.

The Solution???… The adoption and implementation of the certification standard Costa Nostrum – Sustainable Beaches! Similar protocol for the sustainable management, development, certification and promotion of beaches does NOT exist globally. A very powerful “two-way bond”; bather – beach and a very personalized tourist experience could be achieved. www.costanostrum.org

Why a Beach to Certified as Costa Nostrum – Sustainable Beach???

Our Business Plan…? Extra Funding is Needed ≈350,000€ Total Number of Mediterranean Beaches – Customers > 8,000 www.costanostrum.org

Thank you ! We Make Beaches Sustainable … You Enjoy Sustainable Beaches!!! Thank you ! www.costanostrum.org

Costa Nostrum Vs Blue Flag… Costa Nostrum considers Blue Flag award as indicator, while simultaneously attempting to achieve – including other indicators– the sustainable development of both beaches and wider region. It doesn't only focus on the environmental protection of the beaches. Is addressed to all beaches, by objectively classifying them. Visitors could take part to beach evaluation through questionnaire. Takes into account the carrying capacity of each beaches. Enables the annually beach improvement and contributes to an increase in rank of the beach management body. We can “work” in cooperation or independently with Blue Flag. We can certify beaches which can not be certified by Blue Flag Program. www.costanostrum.org

Impacts – Benefits… Environmental Social Economic Protection & Conservation of the environment, the natural resources & of protected species. Sustainable waste management. Use of Renewable Energy Resources. Reduction of urban sprawl & encroachment of the coastal zone. Raises of environmental awareness. Better management of wastes such as nappies and cigarette butts. Increased satisfaction of bathers. Better service quality. Conservation & promotion of local culture. Better control of the businesses operating within the coastal area and the employees. Increased security, resulting from the information provided. Increased social cohesion since specific social groups will have equal access Increased income for the beach “owner”. Creation of new jobs. Increase in other types of tourism - ecotourism. Increased added value for the awarded beach. Connecting bathers with the mainland & its cultural/quality identity - direct economic effect of the region. Promotion of local business worldwide. Surplus value on land adjacent to less popular beaches. www.costanostrum.org

Our Products… An innovative certification standard allowing the sustainability classification and assessment of each beach. Promotion of local crafts around the certified beaches through our free online information portal (website & mobile application) for tourists visiting the Mediterranean

What Costa Nostrum – Sustainable Beaches Certification Standard is…? Classification of each awarded beach Initial Study An original and innovative "Tool“, a study for the establishment of a beach as sustainable. A certification standard for measuring the Degree of Sustainability which achieved at each certified beach. Promotion of the awarded beach A portal (site & mobile application), which are informing the tourists about the characteristics of each Costa Nostrum Sustainable Beach.

Our Innovation… Prevention of the main causes of the environmental impacts. It has an objective system of evaluation and ranking of each beach. It can be applied to all beaches, with same highly positive results. Specific proposals - studies are made with respect to sustainable development, management and promotion of beach. It’s allowing the annual improvement and beach classification. Non stop evaluation of the standard, its implementation and of the beaches by the bathers through online & app questionnaires. Bather can select a beach which meets his requirements, avoiding unnecessary wanderings. www.costanostrum.org

Channels – Go To Market… Β2Β Meetings with municipalities & hotels owners Meetings - Conferences - Exhibitions - Articles Word of Mouth Cooperation with Tour Operators, Travel Agencies, like TUI Information Boards, Flags, Questionnaires Surveys, Brochures Website, app, social media, e-mails, promotion videos Co-organizing the 8th International Sandy Beach Symposium; 1st time on Mediterranean shores in Crete Cooperation with international organizations like Green Destinations & We Do Local Our positive results of our work www.costanostrum.org