Greece is a go-to destination for a gorgeous beachy getaway, but that popularity comes with some downsides. The sheer amount of people wanting to plonk themselves on the country’s sands has led to issues with overcrowding, and businesses like restaurants and hotels often claim huge chunks of the sandy stretches meaning little is left for the public.
The amount of sunbeds taking over Greece’s shores led to locals protesting for beach space last year – and now, it looks like they’re finally being listened to. In an announcement on TikTok, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined the country’s new ‘beach bill’, a list of rules designed to make beaches more orderly and fair.
Beginning in the spring, one of the rules is that 70 percent of beaches must be free of sunbeds to prevent overcrowding. In protected areas, this must be 85 percent, and in ecologically sensitive areas – which will be marked as ‘untouchable beaches’ – sunbeds will be completely banned.
In addition, at least four metres must be maintained between the sunbeds and the shoreline, to make access to the sea easy for everyone.
While these rules are in place to help curb the dominance of beachfront businesses, allocations for concessions on the beach will be awarded through online auctions. And to make sure everyone follows the rules, beaches will allegedly be monitored by drones.
Greece boasts some of the world’s most magnificent shorelines – it’s about time they get some protection.
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