If there’s one thing Greece is known for, it’s beaches. Given the country brags a staggering 13,676km of coast, the place is literally full of them, so no wonder so many of us are keen to flock there to make the most of their warm temperatures and beauty every year.
However, Greek locals aren’t so keen on the number of people flocking to their beaches. Back in March, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the country’s new ‘beach bill’ in a bid to curb overcrowding and make beaches more pleasant for locals.
The bill aims to make 70 percent of beaches sunbed-free (85 percent of which are in conservation areas) and to implement a four-metre-minimum gap between sunbeds and the sea.
How will they enforce these new rules? Well, if you’re sprawled out catching some rays this summer and you hear the faint buzz of a drone, you’ll know why. They’re being used alongside a citizen reporting app to patrol beaches and scope out any bars, restaurants and companies renting out sunbeds without a permit.
The MyCoast app contains a list of establishments that are legally allowed to have beach seating, and allows beachgoers to report violations. 14 beaches will be monitored, including Kryoneri, Valtos, Lagonisi, Nea Herakleia and Klima on Aegina, Masouri on Kalymnos, plus several on Corfu and Rhodes.
According to local news, more than 1,000 complaints have been made in July alone, and €350,000 of fines were handed out in five days. €350,000. The largest of these, €220,000, was charged to a business operating sunbeds without a licence on Thymari beach – that’s a pretty spenny violation to make, right?
‘Our goal is to protect, on the one hand, both the environment and the citizens’ right to free access to the beach,’ said Greek minister of national economy and finance Kostis Hatzidakis, according to euronews, ‘And on the other hand, to preserve our tourist product as well as the healthy entrepreneurship represented by business people who do the job right.’
So, headed to Greece this summer? You can read our original report on the new restrictions here, as well as our roundup of the country’s most drop-dead gorgeous beaches (just make sure your sunbed rental isn’t breaking any rules, obvs).
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