Croatia combats beach towel reservations with municipal cleaning crews

In Croatia, local authorities are taking increasingly strict measures to combat the practice of reserving beach spots with towels. As a heatwave intensifies the competition for shade during the high season, some coastal towns are deploying municipal cleaning crews to remove unattended towels in the early morning.

In Dalmatian locations such as Makarska and Sveti Filip, waste management services are being used to clear away what is considered unwanted beach debris. Authorities are also threatening fines to ensure that beaches remain accessible to all, as they are legally considered public goods.

Ivana Markovic, the mayor of Supetar on the island of Brac, noted that commercial sunbed rentals present a larger issue than towels, suggesting that unused loungers should be stacked rather than scattered across the beach.