Naxos beaches face excessive occupation and lack of inspections

Residents and activists in Naxos are raising alarms regarding the excessive occupation of the coastline by umbrellas and sunbeds. Eleni Andrianopoulou, a member of the ‘Save the Beaches of Naxos’ movement, has criticized the lack of official inspections, noting that joint inspection teams have not been deployed since 2023.

Andrianopoulou emphasized that effective enforcement requires a joint task force involving the municipality, police, and potentially the prosecutor's office to issue fines. Beyond the loss of public space for swimmers, the movement warns that nighttime tourism activities—including loud music, intense lighting, and heavy furniture—are creating unsustainable conditions that threaten the local ecosystem and biodiversity.