Along the sun-soaked shorelines of Greece, some locals have finally had enough.
The soaring cost of sunbeds, which can be more than €60 a day, has led to a wave of protests as Greek nationals demand change to save their beaches.
Dubbed the “towel movement”, protesters are attempting to restore free access to beaches that are often lined with private, rented sun loungers.
Now, locals on Greek islands such as Rhodes, Crete and Paros have taken to the beaches with placards in an attempt to reclaim the public beach spaces.
So what has triggered this wave of protests and what does it mean for people heading to Greece this summer?
What is the Greek towel movement?
The “towel movement” is a term used to describe a growing wave of frustrated locals who want to take back access to public beaches. They believe opportunistic businesses and tourist developments are exploiting the annual summer influx of tourists by charging extortionate fees and spreading their sunbeds beyond licensed areas. Some beds are even reportedly marketed as “VIP” and can go for more than €100 for one day’s use.
This appears to be pricing out local beach dwellers, who feel as if they have no place to go. Some have struggled to find a free spot to simply lay down their towels. Led by groups such as Save Paros Beaches, protesters have taken to the sand holding signs saying the likes of “Reclaim the beach”.
According to a statement published by Metro, the Save Paros protesters said: “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.”
Why are protesters angry about Greek beaches?
Although Greece’s beaches are public spaces, some areas have been fenced off by beachfront businesses that have then lined the sand with luxury sun loungers. These loungers, which often come with their own parasol, appear to have been set up across vast beach spaces, leaving little room for others on the sand.
In May, the Greek supreme court circulated a memo that stated the law “does not recognize private beaches”. However, this hasn’t stopped many companies from taking advantage of tourists looking for shade and spreading loungers right up to the shoreline.
These have come alongside exorbitant daily fees that are pricing out locals and tourists alike.
Are the authorities going to stop the Greek towel protests?
The New York Times reported that the finance minister of Greece has encouraged local authorities to take action.
Local inspectors were reportedly sent to some beach areas to remove illegal sunloungers, while other businesses removed loungers themselves because they were worried about receiving fines. However, some fear that loungers will simply reappear once the inspectors have left.
What’s more, the momentum behind the Greek protests appears to be gathering as more locals demand the freedom to enjoy their beaches without the hefty price tag.
Greek towel movement inspires wider protests
It’s not just Greek islanders that are taking a stand against greedy business owners. In the Turkish town of ÇeÅme, locals have been inspired by the towel movement sweeping across other Aegean Sea destinations.
