Free campers created chaos on a pristine beach on the Greek island of Evia over the weekend, reigniting the debate on free and uncontrolled public access to its beaches.
Last weekend, dozens of tents occupied most of Thapsa Beach, in the Municipality of Kymi-Aliveri, located in central Evia. It was one of the most inaccessible beaches in Greece, but recently the municipality paved the part of the road that until now was only accessible by jeep-type vehicles.
The beach is among the country’s 198 beaches within the Natura 2000 network which consists of protected areas, aiming to ensure the survival of Europe’s most valuable and threatened species and habitats. Tables, sun loungers, and umbrellas are banned to protect the natural beauty and integrity of the beaches.
The photo of Thapsa Beach swarmed with free campers and their tents has been making the rounds on the internet.
Konstantinos Dimas, who raised the issue with the above photo, said that the beach was “suffocated” by people. In addition to the umbrellas, there were dozens of tents – more than 30 – put up by travelers who intended to spend the night illegally at the spot.
Free campers ignore the prohibition on Greek beach
The mayor of Kymi-Aliveri, Nikolaos Barakos, confirmed that last weekend “there was not a single free spot” left on the beach by the crowd, even though free camping is prohibited throughout the beach.
“On the beach, there was an ‘occupation’ by campers, something that is unprecedented for Thapsa Beach, although it has been happening on other well-known beaches in Evia,” he added.
The apparent spread of free campers raises public health risks, with residents complaining of the strong stench that existed for the past three days in certain parts of the beach. It also risks a wildfire.
The beach is located near a forest on steep mountain slopes, making the spot vulnerable to the spread of fire, which would endanger travelers who would find it difficult to escape.
The municipal authority of Kymi-Aliveri has alerted the police to take notice of the presence of the free campers, while the presence of crews to clean the beach has already been launched, as well as the installation of signs informing travelers that free camping is prohibited.
Reclaim the beach movement in Greece
The Greek constitution protects public access to the beaches of Greece for free. Greece is struggling to find a balance between free access to the beaches and the rising demand by rocketing numbers of vacationers who drive up demand for beaches offering sun loungers, shelters, refreshments, snacks, and — all too often — loud music.
Last year the “Reclaim the Beach” movement in several Greek islands demanded free access to the beaches.
The campaign started on the Aegean island of Paros where hundreds of residents gathered at the popular Santa Maria beach to protest against the uncontrolled spread of privately run loungers and umbrellas on the beaches. They demanded space to put down their towels.
A few days later, the campaign succeeded. The privately run loungers and umbrellas were removed from half of the beach.
The protests that spread to the islands of Naxos and Serifos were dubbed the “beach towel revolt,” referring to the items beachgoers brought with them to sit on before the spread of rented chairs.
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