All Greek beaches are public by law. However, many companies get licences to rent sunbeds and umbrellas to tourists on them. The situation has become unbearable for local residents as some rental companies go as far as to not allow beachgoers equipped with their own towels to enter areas where they operate. Such practice is illegal in Greece.

"We do not want the beach to be occupied by umbrellas and huge, you know, really humongous beds that have nothing to do with the simplicity of the island," Ronit Nesher, a 53-year-old Paros resident, told Reuters. The protests dubbed the "towel movement" by the Greek media originated there. Those active in it want local communities to regain unrestricted access to Greek beaches.

The price for two sunbeds and an umbrella often exceeds €100 per day in Greece, reaching €300 on some islands. Members of the "towel movement" point out that rental companies notoriously occupy a larger area of beaches than the permits they have received allow them to. This leads to them cutting off access to the sea altogether in some places.

The "towel movement" has spread to the surrounding islands and coastal towns in mainland Greece. As Reuters reported, the Facebook group "Save the beaches of Naxos now!" has recently reached as many as 5,000 members. That could no longer be ignored by Greek Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis who finally decided to speak out.

Mr Hatzidakis promised to intensify inspections of beach bars and other businesses renting out seaside chaise lounges and umbrellas and deal with illegal appropriation of public beaches, The National Heralds reports.

Source: Reuters, The National Herald