SUNBED wars have returned to Greece as local authorities use drones to patrol beaches occupied by tourists’ sunbeds and umbrellas.
Angry residents are cracking down on the issue and have formed a protest group dubbed the “beach towel movement” to force authorities to act.
3
The group was formed last year and has seen thousands of people take to the streets and protest against paying exorbitant prices to use sun loungers set up for tourists.
Greek authorities are now taking extreme measures to resolve the issue amid complaints.
New rules have been introduced stating that umbrellas and sun loungers must be at least four meters from the sea.
Bars and hotels You also need a license to place sun loungers, umbrellas, tables and chairs on beaches, with some seaside areas prohibiting furniture altogether.
As British tourists fly to Greece to summer holidaysauthorities are using satellites, AI and an app to enforce the new rules and eradicate the “illegal” use of sun loungers on thousands of beaches across the country.
The video shows a drone flying over rows of beds on the Halkidki peninsula – a holiday spot known for its idyllic beaches.
The first drone flight took off in May, and so far they have spotted rule breakers on Pefkochori beach who did not have a permit to set up so close to the water.
Retired Evgenia Rapti, 64 years old, who has summer house near Pefkochori beach, is worried about the large number of tourists arriving in the country.
She said: “The whole beach was taken over” with tables, chairs and sun loungers.
“When we buy our home 40 years ago it was completely different,” Rapti added.
“The beach was empty and it was Cool just lie there,” she continued.
On the popular tourist island of Rhodes, authorities recently suspended the operation of a beach bar that even placed sun loungers in the sea.
Beach activist George Theodoridis said: “The problem with beaches in Greece is the business owners who, with license or through trespass, cover parts of the coast with sun loungers, umbrellas, tables and even permanent structures.”
Many have rebelled against the exorbitant prices for sun loungers – with two mattresses and a parasol for a day sometimes costing up to 100 euros and usually costing at least 40 euros.
Lux Resorts along Greece’s many coasts are considered the worst offenders, as they are accused of creating private beaches using public land and charging hundreds of dollars a day.
The “beach towel revolt” that began on the island of Paros last summer has become a natinational movement, with Greeks who were fed up with paying such large sums to enjoy their beaches taking to the streets to express their concerns.
Efthymia Sarantakou, from the University of West Attica, told the BBC last year: “There is a]long-standing lack of oversight, which has led to increased impunity.”
Under the new regulations, up to 70% of Greek beaches must now be free of sun loungers, while protected areas must be 85% free.
Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis has now promised to deal strictly with companies that flout the rules.
“When we say there will be order on the coast, we mean it.” he said.
His ministry hopes to grant more than 1,200 new waterfront leases this year in an attempt to regularize the situation, in addition to the 6,500 that already exist.
Beach towel movement
Frustrated residents have taken action as part of a protest dubbed the “beach towel movement”.
The movement began last year and has seen thousands of people oppose paying exorbitant prices to use sun loungers and instead demand free access to beaches.
New rules have now been introduced which stipulate that umbrellas and sun loungers must be at least four meters from the sea.
Bars and hotels also need a license to place sun loungers, umbrellas, tables and chairs on beaches – with some parts of the beach banning furniture altogether.
Greeks who are tired of paying high prices to get a comfortable spot to sunbathe have taken to the streets to voice their concerns.
Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis has now promised to come down hard on companies that flout the rules.
“When we say there will be order on the coast, we mean it,” he said.
Under the new regulations, up to 70% of Greek beaches must now be free of sun loungers, while protected areas must be 85% free.
3
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
