Controls continue on the islands while from space 12 to 25 August, were carried out 1,225 additional checks to private individuals and businesses of tourist exploitation of the seafront where 340 violations were found by the local Real Estate Services.

At the same time, the Prosecutor of Cyclades, Odysseas Tsorbatzoglou, proceeded in 11 new arrests in Naxos for established violations related to occupying the beach with umbrella seats.

These checks are added to the 2,230 checks carried out between July 21 and August 7, where 749 violations were found.

It is noted that between July 21 – August 25, the total number of controls amounts to 3,455 and the total number of violations to 1,081.

The checks were carried out after mobilizing all the executives of the Real Estate Services, with the revocation of summer leaves and the transfer of employees to services that had staff shortages in order to carry out timely inspections of the maximum possible number of businesses.

In the context of the order given by the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostis Hatzidakis, to the General Secretariat of Public Property for the intensity of controls on beaches throughout the country, the report so far includes the following:

  • Between August 12 – 25, checks were carried out on 1,225 businesses and individuals, in 41 regional sections with an emphasis on tourist areas. For example, checks were carried out in 168 businesses in Pieria, 123 in Crete and 71 checks and re-checks in businesses in Naxos where Cyclades Prosecutor Mr. Odysseas Tsorbatzoglou made 11 arrests for established violations related to occupying a beach with umbrella seats without a permit or in excess of the permit and preventing access to the sea by placing umbrella seats at a distance of less than 5m. from the coastline.
  • In total, during the above period, 340 violations were found from these controls.
  • The penalties imposed – depending on the severity of the violation – by the local Real Estate Services include: fines, removal of the umbrella seats, demolition of the arbitrary constructions within the shared coastal and beach zone, dismissal of the tenants, up to automatic procedure for those responsible for businesses.

The inspections were carried out by the Real Estate Services under the coordination of the General Secretary of Public Property of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance, Naya Kollia, ex officio or following complaints submitted by citizens.

The autopsies throughout the country and especially in the popular tourist destinations will continue in September in order, as the Ministry of National Economy and Finance has pointed out, to respect the terms of the contracts signed with the businesses, to ensure citizens’ access to the beaches in accordance with the rules of the Constitution and to protect the image of the Greek tourist product