New rules to protect Greek beachesBy law, beaches in Greece must now be 70 per cent sunbed-free, or 85 per cent for those in protected areas, where construction is now strictly limited.Under new rules introduced in March, umbrellas and deck chairs must be at least four metres from the shoreline and no chair rentals are allowed on smaller beaches with less than four metres of sand. However many businesses haven't obliged.Drones will now be used to monitor beach usage, as well as the installation of an electronic reporting system so people can highlight violations. Residents will also be able to report wrongdoing via an app.New laws prevent restaurants and bars from offering beach chairs for hire to customers without a permit after complaints from locals about overcrowding. Source: GettyEuropean hotspots cracking down on touristsThe move in Greece follows the likes of neighbouring European countries including Spain, Italy and Denmark with authorities from each country recently announcing major moves to help control the influx of tourists.In Venice, Italy day visitors were subject to a trial where they paid an $8 entry fee during peak hours in a bid to preserve the city from overcrowding. While in Barcelona, Spain thousands took to the streets in protest of mass tourism, saying it had worsened their quality of life.Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, authorities are taking a very different approach. They're now offering incentives to travellers that help sustain the city and its environment through a bold new rewards program. Bali, Indonesia has been on a mission to control unruly tourists, and earlier this year introduced a new tax on arrival for travellers. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Source link : https://au.news.yahoo.com/major-crackdown-on-european-beaches-with-more-than-566k-in-fines-issued-054114938.html Author : Publish date : 2024-07-17 05:41:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.