The number of complaints about illegal activities and violations on the country’s beaches through the Finance Ministry’s MyCoast platform has reached 2,967 before July has barely begun. This fact signals many heated incidents in the beach chair war this summer, while the use of drones for beach surveillance is being planned.
Explosive increase in MyCoast complaints
Based on statistics from the Ministry of Digital Governance’s MyCoast website, where citizen complaints are collected, 300 named complaints were filed at the beginning of the tourist season in May and another 2,667 during June and the first days of July. The MyCoast application has become a valuable tool for both inspection services and citizens.
Fines up to €60,000 for illegal beach occupation
Of the submitted complaints, more than half, according to a recent report by “Eleftheros Typos,” have already been inspected and the prescribed penalties imposed, which in some cases exceed €60,000. Obstructing public free access to the sea, shore and beach carries penalties from €2,000 to €60,000, while obstructing the inspection work of any authority costs €10,000. Failure to display a sign with concession details results in a €1,000 fine.
Drones for beach surveillance in August
Until now, inspections have been conducted using conventional means, namely by teams with measuring tapes and concession documents in hand, to determine whether terms are being complied with. However, heading into August, drones will also be deployed for surveillance and aerial photography of beaches. The use of drones is expected to accelerate and improve the effectiveness of inspections.
Geographic distribution of complaints: Eastern Attica leads
The geographic distribution of June complaints, when people began flooding the beaches, is particularly interesting. The most complaints for illegal beach occupation were filed for the coasts of Eastern Attica with 396 complaints, of which 106 were in the Saronic Gulf area.
The areas with the most complaints follow:
- Halkidiki: 351 complaints
- Magnesia: 189 complaints
- Rhodes: 164 complaints
- Preveza: 133 complaints
- Corinthia: 101 complaints
The MyCoast application run by the Ministry of Digital Governance continues to receive complaints from across the country, while drone inspections are expected to intensify the war against illegal beach occupations.
