ABSTRACT
This paper explores the relationship existing between the number of Blue Flags a destination has, its degree of tourism development and the standard of living of its residents using a Spanish case study: the Valencian Community. Using a two-step methodology that combines the estimation of a PLS-SEM model and dynamic panel data, the obtained results suggest a direct relationship between the number of Blue Flags and the degree of tourism development of a destination. However, no relationship is found between the number of Blue Flags and the standard of living of the residents of these destinations.
