Tensions have been on the rise in Greece even before the summer really took hold, as more than 3,000 complaints about illegal activities on its beaches were filed with the Ministry of Finance before July. In June alone, 2,667 complaints – both anonymous and named – were recorded with another 300 were filed in May.
East Attica and Halkidiki, Central Macedonia, lead the list of complaints, setting the tone for increased tensions for the rest of the year. Of the complaints filed, more than half have already been checked and the prescribed penalties have been imposed, which in some cases exceed €60,000 (£51,900). In Greece, obstructing the public’s free access to the sea, shore, and beaches attracts fines ranging from €2,000 (£1,730) to €60,000, while obstructing the inspection work of any body risks €10,000 (£8,652) penalties. Meanwhile, failure to post the sign with the details of the concession is fined at €1,000 (£865).
Until now, inspections have been carried out by conventional means, that is, by teams with measuring tapes and with the concessions in hand, in order to determine whether the conditions are being met, Keep Talking Greece reports. However, from this month, drones have also been deployed for supervision and aerial photography of beaches, either preventively or following complaints.
The MyCoast app, launched last year and run by the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance, has become a valuable tool for both audit services and citizens. It allows beachgoers to report violations of regulations directly, which became necessary after locals started to protest the lack of free access to beaches due to illegal occupation by businesses.
However, violations continue, according to the citizens’ group Ombrella, based on the island of Rhodes. It cited three cases where illegal activity is taking place, including on the picturesque Elli Beach in Rhodes Town, where one business with a 7,578 square foot (704-metre) lease actually occupies more than 22,600 square feet (2,100 metres), including a restaurant, bar and a massage area built without the necessary permits. Another nearby venue has large pergolas, bars and hedges that obstruct sea views, covering over 21,500 square feet.
At Anthony Quinn Beach, a lease for 883 square feet has expanded to more than 12,900, with sunbeds even placed in the water. Ombrella has said such practices violate constitutional rights and harm lawful operators.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 10,565 concessions were made, of which 982 were made in the current year. Of the total number of complaints, most (1,568) concern arbitrary beach coverage, while another 441 are related to the obstruction of free access.
According to the ministry’s “map” of violations, 79 complaints were recorded on Corfu, 17 in Kefalonia, 37 in Lefkada, 20 in Naxos, 12 in both Samos and Syros and a whopping 164 in Rhodes.