Sunbed wars heat up as furious Greeks launch the ‘Towel Movement’
The war against sun lounger-hogging tourists has reached a new height in Greece.
Campaigners have now vowed to fight on the beaches.
The so-called ‘Towel Movement’ has been launched on the island of Paros after locals lost patience with the sandy scandal.
Pictures from the Aegean shores show people marching with banners which proclaim: ‘Reclaim the beach: Paros citizens movement for free beaches.’
Islanders feel holidaymakers have overrun coastal areas this summer.
Across Greece, and much of Europe, tourists have found a number of crafty ways to claim the best spots on the beach.
Some have used towels or umbrellas to dash out under cover of darkness and claim a spot.
But sunbed firms have also added to the issue, locals say.
They claim illegal operators have ripped off tourists who want to use the plastic recliners.
The Save Paros Beaches group showed one firm charging €60 – £51.68 -to rent an umbrella and two sunbeds for the day.
For the higher price of €120- £103.36 – visitors could even bask in a ‘VIP area’.
The Save Paros Beaches group said in a statement: ‘We claim our right to public space, our right to enjoy our beaches that are encroached upon by greedy, socially irresponsible businessmen who occupy beaches in their entirety or exceed their limits by up to 100 times the area they legally lease.’
Campaigners collected more than 2,200 signatures from people backing their way against beach inequality.
The mayor of Paros responded: ‘We are experiencing a condition where indecency is so pervasive anyway. Everyone does what they want.
‘Everyone can ask for what they want because they have never been in control, let alone have consequences attributed to them.’
The ‘Towel Movement’ is spreading to other islands in Greece as communities come together to reclaim the beaches.
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