This summer, the coast will educate tourists on sea safety, lost children, and beach litter through a new multilingual campaign launched by the provincial company Westtoer, ten coastal municipalities, and various partners.
The coast attracts 5.5 million holidaymakers and 18 million day-trippers annually, with a significant influx expected during summer and sunny days in June and September. To address this, Westtoer is spearheading an initiative to raise awareness among beachgoers. “Our message focuses on reducing the number of lost children, limiting waste, and promoting safe swimming practices,” stated Jurgen Vanlerberghe, Chairman of Westtoer.
Westtoer will implement two key actions. A creative video campaign aims to inform beach visitors about sea safety and preventing lost children. Additionally, a playful initiative will be held in each coastal town featuring street theatre duo Kartje Kilo, who will use humour to highlight the importance of taking litter away and maintaining clean beaches.
“By providing clear and multilingual messages, we aim to make beach visitors aware of risks such as lost children, unsafe swimming, and littering. Working with our partners, we ensure coastal rescue services operate in a safe and well-informed environment. A prepared public is a safe public,” said Kelly Detavernier, Deputy for Supra-local Safety Facilities and Initiatives.
