GREECE’S crackdown on damaging tourism is continuing as local councils banned 40 more beaches from having sunbeds.
The British holiday hotspot has stressed that the war against tourists is not over – and that a total of 238 of its shores will be protected.
AFPUmbrellas and sun loungers laid out on a Greek beach[/caption]
AlamyRows of umbrellas on a stunning Greek beach before the rules were announced[/caption]
As many as 198 beaches were already prohibited from placing loungers and umbrellas to dissuade tourists from swarming them.
The southern European country will not allow umbrellas or sunbeds near these beaches’ coastlines, amongst other things.
Each of these beaches fall into Natura 2000 – a network aiming to preserve protected nature in the EU.
The beaches listed are considered areas of high ecological importance.
Ministers don’t want Brits to litter the Greek coastline with things like umbrellas and sunbeds, which pose a threat to it.
Government officials were advised by their national climate agency to ban beaches including “the significant presence of habitats protected by EU or national legislation”, according to local paper Ethnos .
Criteria also included those which house “rare endemic species of flora and fauna” among other conservation efforts.
Actions considered to endanger the shores are the use of cars, organised events with over ten people, music playing on speakers.
This includes placing physical objects like table seats, umbrellas, sunbeds on the shores.
Kostis Hatzidakis, the Minister of National Economy and Finance, said: “The central goal of the regulations, which we established with the law 5092/2024, is the combination of environmental protection with sustainable development.
“After all, the environment is a valuable component of the Greek tourist product.”
Environment minister Thodoros Skylakakis added: “Our Decision on the so-called ‘Deceitful beaches’”’ foresees that they will not be granted for tourist exploitation, as what is important in these beaches is the environmental protection over the development-investment dimension.”
The tough restrictions come as sunbed wars returned to Greece with drones now deployed to patrol beaches taken over by tourists’ lounges and umbrellas.
Furious residents are cracking down on the problem and have formed a protest group dubbed “the beach towel movement” forcing authorities to take action.
The group, which formed last year, has seen thousands take to the streets to protest against paying extortionate prices to use sun loungers set up for tourists.
Greek authorities are now taking extreme measures to solve the issue amid rising complaints.
New rules have been brought in dictating that umbrellas and deck chairs must be at least four metres from the sea.
Bars and hotels also need a licence to put loungers, umbrellas, tables and chairs out on beaches with some of the seafront having a blanket ban on the furniture.
The initiative Save Paros Beaches was launched in protest of the excessive spread of sunbeds and members protested at a beach with banners and towels in hand.
Residents even reported being barred from beaches by businesses after refusing to pay for a lounger.
As a result, three businesses in Santa Maria Beach have already closed, getting hundreds of sunbeds scrapped after the country’s top prosecutor ordered an investigation, in response to the complaints.
Officials from the Syros Land Registry found violations and immediately ordered the removal of loungers from the beach.
Beach Towel Movement
The movement began last year and has seen thousands object against paying extortionate prices to use deck chairs and instead demand free access to beaches.
New rules have now been introduced that stipulate that umbrellas and deck chairs must be at least four metres from the sea.
Bars and hotels also need a licence to put loungers, umbrellas, tables and chairs out on beaches – with some parts of the beach having an outright ban on the furniture.
Greeks who are tired of paying high prices to bag a comfortable spot to sunbathe have taken to the streets to voice their concerns.
Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis has now vowed to come down hard on businesses who are flouting the rules.
“When we say there will be order on the shore, we mean it,” he said.
Under the new regulations, up to 70 per cent of Greek beaches must now be free from sunbeds, while protected areas must be 85 per cent free