Greece’s Rhodes Beaches Overrun As Popular Tourist Hotspot Sees Sunbeds Encroaching Into The Sea, Blocking Public Access And Raising Safety Concerns

Published on August 20, 2025

Rhodes, 1 of Greece’s astir celebrated tourer destinations, is facing an unprecedented overcrowding situation arsenic formation businesses proceed to grow illegally, placing sunbeds straight successful nan h2o and blocking nationalist access. Despite authorities promises to enforce regulations, reports from citizens’ group Ombrella uncover that respective establishments person exceeded their leased areas, erected unlicensed structures, and obstructed scenic views astatine iconic beaches for illustration Elli and Anthony Quinn. With drones and nan “My Coast” app deployed to show compliance, authorities are attempting to rein successful rogue operators, but questions stay complete whether enforcement measures are genuinely effective successful protecting nationalist beaches and ensuring a safe, enjoyable acquisition for each visitors.

Despite promises from section authorities 2 years agone to tighten regulations, immoderate businesses connected Rhodes proceed to flout rules designed to protect nationalist beaches and support adjacent title among operators. Citizens’ group Ombrella has raised concerns that a number of establishments are not only exceeding their leased areas but are besides constructing unlicensed accommodation and restricting nationalist access, efficaciously compromising nan authorities of beachgoers.

Ombrella has pointed retired 3 circumstantial cases wherever forbidden formation activities are reportedly ongoing. At Elli Beach, a premier spot successful Rhodes Town known for its scenic beauty and fame among tourists, a business pinch an charismatic lease of 7,578 quadrate feet is said to beryllium occupying complete 22,600 quadrate feet. This melodramatic overreach includes a restaurant, bar, and massage area that person been built without nan basal permits. Ombrella maintains that specified unauthorized structures not only break section laws but besides frighten nan situation and nan wide acquisition for visitors seeking nationalist entree to nan beach.

Another adjacent location has reportedly taken liberties pinch its permitted area arsenic well. The venue has installed ample pergolas, aggregate bars, and hedges that obstruct oversea views, extending its footprint to complete 21,500 quadrate feet. Ombrella’s investigation indicates that these overextensions are not one-off cases but bespeak a wider inclination of rule-breaking, underscoring ongoing challenges successful overseeing backstage enterprises on Rhodes’ busiest beaches.

Anthony Quinn Beach, different famed tourer destination, is besides affected. A lease officially covering conscionable 883 quadrate feet is said to person grown to much than 12,900 quadrate feet, pinch sunbeds and umbrellas moreover extending into nan water. Ombrella asserts that these practices are not only unlawful but besides impinge connected law rights, restricting nationalist entree to earthy spaces and creating unfair advantages for operators who take to disregard nan rules. These infringements person sparked increasing interest among locals and visitors alike, arsenic nan beaches are a cardinal portion of Rhodes’ entreaty for some home and world tourists.

The Greek authorities, recognizing nan seriousness of nan situation, person progressively turned to exertion to show compliance and enforce regulations. Drones are being deployed to study beaches from nan air, providing real-time oversight of businesses that whitethorn beryllium encroaching connected nationalist spaces. Alongside this, nan authorities has rolled retired a dedicated exertion called “My Coast,” which allows officials to way operators, verify leases, and guarantee adherence to nan ineligible limits for formation use.

The regulations themselves are stringent and specific. At slightest 70% of each formation must stay free of sunbeds and umbrellas, pinch conservation areas requiring an moreover higher period of 85%. Any business engaged successful nan renting aliases trading of loungers must person nan due archiving to run legally. These measures are designed not only to sphere nationalist entree but besides to support biology sustainability and safeguard nan livelihoods of lawful operators who comply pinch nan rules.

Despite these measures, Ombrella and different observers stay skeptical astir nan effectiveness of enforcement successful Rhodes. The very aforesaid constitution astatine Elli Beach that is presently nether scrutiny was already penalized successful 2023 for akin violations. At that time, footage went viral showing a waiter serving guests while opinionated successful nan water—a striking illustration of blatant disregard for regulations. Authorities had ordered nan removal of nan forbidden structures, yet reports bespeak that nan issues persist, raising questions astir some compliance and accountability.

New regulations introduced by nan Greek authorities past twelvemonth person further clarified operational limits. Sunbeds must now beryllium placed astatine slightest 13 feet from nan shoreline, ensuring unobstructed entree for each beachgoers and maintaining nan earthy beauty of nan coast. Failure to comply pinch these updated rules tin consequence successful fines of up to £600,000, underscoring nan seriousness pinch which nan authorities views these infractions.

The ongoing business connected Rhodes besides highlights nan hostility betwixt backstage endeavor and nationalist interest. While tourism is simply a important constituent of nan section economy, ensuring that businesses run wrong nan rule is basal for semipermanent sustainability. Overcrowding, blocked oversea views, and encroachment into nationalist areas diminish nan acquisition for visitors and tin yet harm Rhodes’ estimation arsenic a apical tourer destination. Ombrella’s reports service arsenic a reminder that vigilant oversight is basal to onslaught a equilibrium betwixt economical opportunity and nationalist access.

Environmental advocates besides stress that unregulated description s tin person a antagonistic effect connected coastal ecosystems. The building of unlicensed structures and nan placement of sunbeds straight successful nan h2o tin disturb section wildlife, accelerate erosion, and harm delicate marine habitats. By enforcing strict adherence to formation regulations, authorities not only protect nationalist authorities but besides lend to biology preservation, ensuring that Rhodes’ beaches stay pristine for early generations.

As nan summertime play progresses, some locals and visitors are watching intimately to spot whether nan authorities’ crackdown will beryllium effective. The operation of drone monitoring, nan My Coast app, and important fines represents a modern attack to regulatory enforcement. However, persistent reports of violations bespeak that challenges remain, peculiarly successful areas wherever enforcement whitethorn beryllium inconsistent aliases businesses are consenting to flout nan rules repeatedly.

Rhodes, Greece, is facing a formation overcrowding situation arsenic forbidden description s and sunbeds placed successful nan h2o artifact nationalist access, contempt authorities promises to enforce regulations. Citizens’ group Ombrella reports aggregate violations astatine celebrated beaches for illustration Elli and Anthony Quinn.

Ultimately, Rhodes’ acquisition serves arsenic a lawsuit study for different tourist-heavy regions successful Greece and beyond. Maintaining nan delicate equilibrium betwixt profitable formation operations, biology protection, and nationalist entree requires vigilance, transparency, and accountability.Continuous monitoring by Ombrella, mixed pinch modern surveillance devices and dense fines, plays a important domiciled successful keeping beaches secure, unfastened to nan public, and enjoyable for each visitor.