More than 3,000 complaints about arbitrariness and illegalities on beaches have already been filed with the Ministry of Finance before July even begins, predicting tension this year, as well as last year.
East Attica and Halkidiki lead the list of complaints.
In June alone, 2,667 anonymous and named complaints were recorded, while another approximately 300 were filed in May, despite the relative improvement compared to last 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 euros.
Obstructing the public’s free access to the sea, the shore and the beach attracts fines ranging from 2,000 euros to 60,000 euros, while obstructing the inspection work of any body, 10,000 euros. Failure to post the sign with the details of the concession is fined with 1,000 euros.
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. However, heading towards August, drones will also be deployed for supervision and aerial photography of beaches either preventively or following complaints.
As noted by competent sources, the MyCoast application that is run by the Ministry of Digital Governance, has become a valuable “tool” for both the audit services and citizens.
Digital application MyCoast went in operation in April 2024 and facilitates beach-goers in Greece to directly report violations of beach access regulations by those putting umbrellas and sunbeds on the coastline. The move became a necessity after Greeks started to protest the lack of free access to beaches due to illegal occupation by businesses.
In any case, the high rates of delinquency of last summer, as well as the extreme cases of arbitrariness, have not been repeated so far.
On the one hand, the “severe” fines and direct inspections, and on the other hand, the more complete competitive concession process, have improved the situation overall.
According to the data of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 10,565 concessions were made, of which 982 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.
Of particular interest is the geographical distribution of complaints in June, when people began flooding the beaches.
The beaches of Eastern Attica and Halkidiki were found to be at the top of the list of violations.
The “map” of violations shows:
Aitoloakarnania: 33. Eastern Attica: 396, of which 106 were in the Saronic Gulf. Andros: 10. Argolida: 17. Arcadia: 4. Achaia: 51. Boeotia: 1. Western Attica: 9. Evros: 16. Evia: 72. Zakynthos: 50. Ilia: 12. Heraklion Crete: 45. Thassos: 84. Thesprotia: 17. Thessaloniki: 65. Thira: 21. Ikaria: 10. Ioannina: 5. Kavala: 64. Kalymnos: 35. Karpathos: 7. Kastoria: 3. Kea-Kythnos: 7. Corfu: 79. Kefallonia: 17. Corinth: 101 of which 52 in the Kiato area. Kos: 24. Laconia: 9. Larissa: 25. Lasithi: 15. Lesvos: 13. Lefkada: 37. Limnos: 8. Magnesia: 189. Messinia: 62. Milos: 13. Mykonos: 33. Naxos: 20. Saronic Islands: 59. South Attica: 29. Xanthi: 3. Paros: 35. Piraeus: 4. Pieria: 39. Preveza: 133. Rethymno: 16. Rhodope: 9. Rhodes: 164. Samos: 12. Sporades: 28. Syros: 12. Tinos: 15. Fthiotida: 6. Fokida: 7.
*thumbnail: archive picture
The Saronic gulf is in Western Attica. Are you sure you didn’t exchange the Eastern and Western Attica data?
the Saronic gulf extends up to Sounion I think
Yes, it does, but it’s still on the West side, where most of the abuses happen.
Who do I complain to? LEFKADA is being very badly ruined…more tourist accommodation than indigenous homes and business’s umbrellas all over Amouso beach as many other beaches also.
mycoast app
Who can I complain to about Zakynthos?
Schinaria Beach in south Rethymno has been invaded this season with triple the amount of sun beds than previous seasons. Leaving only a small part of the beach for locals to sit. This is way over the 30% legal limit. I am trying to report this & get some action. There were enough Sun beds for tourists before the invasion, especially considering that the tourist season is running at around 50% less people than previous years. Give locals there beaches back.