The illegal beach chair trade is thriving in Greece. A beach has been raging with local residents for weeks. The authorities are now taking action.
The hot summer again this year attracts a lot of tourists to the European beaches. In Greece, entrepreneurs cleverly abuse this. They place sun loungers on beaches and boardwalks without a permit or occupy sun loungers that are actually available for free. Even natural areas are not safe from scammers, even if swimmers are not allowed there.
Tourists are properly ripped off
Once occupied, the ‘umbrella mafia’ asks up to 60 euros for sun loungers from the tourists, who don’t even know that the chairs are actually free. It gets very hot on the small island of Paros. The authorities there stood by and did nothing – at least until now.
Local residents protested loudly
After loud protests from local residents – they call themselves the ‘towel movement’ – the authorities are now rigorously checking and putting an end to the illegal activities. During recent raids on Paros and Antiparos, violations were found at 13 of the 18 entrepreneurs.
5000 m² of illegally occupied beaches and promenades have been cleared. The sunbeds they had set up were removed and boldly constructed buildings were demolished. Now the beaches are once again available for free to residents and tourists – as they should be!
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
