The Greeks have had enough of being priced out of their most popular beaches by wealthy tourists.
Across Greek islands, locals have been talking part in a campaign,
dubbed the ‘beach towel revolt’, to protest that access to beaches is
being hijacked by beach bars and businesses offering high-priced sun
loungers and umbrellas.
The movement, which started in Paros, has now spread to other
islands, including Naxos, Rhodes and Crete, with campaigners claiming
the beaches belong to the country’s citizens and they have the right to
lay down their towels for free, wherever they like.
Beachside businesses are required to obtain licences to set up beach
loungers and umbrellas, with regular checks to prevent them exceeding
their designated space, but locals says checks are rarely made.
A group of campaigners sent up a drone to check for themselves and
found that in many instances the beach businesses had far exceeded their
permitted areas.