Popular tourist hot spot moves to strip beaches of sunbeds and umbrellas in tough new ban

A apical summertime destination has expanded its database of protected beaches, banning the rental of sunbeds and different commercialized enactment up of the engaged question season.

Greece, a question blistery spot facing overtourism pressure, added caller beaches to its protected database this month, according to a translated connection from Greece's Ministry of the Environment and Energy.

Officials accidental the full fig of protected beaches stands astatine 250, though immoderate planetary media person enactment the fig astatine 251.

POPULAR DESTINATION CRACKS DOWN HARD ON TOURISTS AS NEW LIMITS THREATEN SUMMER GETAWAYS

The database has grown from 238 beaches successful 2025 and 198 the twelvemonth before, according to quality bureau Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Greece's Ministry of the Environment and Energy.

The argumentation applies to Greece's "untrodden beaches," which are typically located successful distant and environmentally delicate coastal areas. 

The fig of protected beaches successful Greece has accrued this twelvemonth arsenic portion of broader efforts to negociate overtourism. (iStock)

Officials did not specify which beaches were included successful the latest update, the connection said.

The measurement prohibits commercialized usage of those beaches, including the rental of sunbeds and umbrellas.

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"The amendment aims to guarantee the effectual extortion of beaches with important aesthetic, geomorphological oregon ecological value, arsenic good arsenic to sphere situation types and taxon of flora and fauna recovered successful these areas," the ministry said successful its statement.

In immoderate areas, the measurement is aimed astatine protecting marine life, including endangered taxon specified arsenic monk seals and loggerhead turtles, AFP reported.

The argumentation prohibits commercialized use, including umbrellas and sunbeds, connected beaches deemed environmentally sensitive. (iStock)

The ministry's connection said, "In particular, it expands the fig of coastlines and beaches wrong areas included successful the National List of the European Natura 2000 ecological network, wherever the granting of commercialized usage and immoderate enactment that could harm their earthy signifier oregon ecological integrity is present prohibited."

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Fox News Digital reached retired to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy for comment.

The determination comes arsenic Greek officials woody with mounting overtourism pressure, peculiarly connected Greece's busiest islands.

Greece has expanded its database of protected beaches, restricting commercialized enactment specified arsenic sunbed rentals successful delicate coastal areas. (iStock)

Earlier successful April, Athens Mayor Haris Doukas said helium mightiness bounds the fig of caller hotels built successful the city, saying that Athens "must not go Barcelona."

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"We truly request to spot if and however galore much hotels we request and where," Doukas said successful effect to a question from Euronews astatine an event.

He added, "We request to spot and deliberation astir however overmuch other tourer load we tin assistance and where."

Greece welcomed a grounds 38 cardinal visitors past year, intensifying concerns astir overtourism. (iStock)

Travel to Greece deed a grounds 38 cardinal visitors successful the past year, according to Bank of Greece statistic obtained by AFP, up 5.6% from the erstwhile year.

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Arrivals from the European Union roseate by 2.8%, portion non-EU visits accrued by 10%, AFP antecedently reported.

Jessica Mekles of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.