British holidaymakers heading to Greece this spring and summer will be greeted by refreshed beaches as new rules come into effect from early May.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who announced the changes via TikTok in March, said the rules, which stipulate that only a third of beaches can be used, were aimed at tackling overcrowding. Deck chairs will be placed, while all beach furniture will be prohibited in ecologically sensitive areas. On Greek beaches, space is provided for beachgoers who cannot afford sunbeds.

On the popular Cyclades island of Mykonos, which is notorious for flouting beach restrictions, some bars and resorts are renting out sun loungers and cabanas for €100 (£85) a day.

The new law has been welcomed by many Greeks, who have complained for years about a lack of access to beaches that are often illegally “privatized”.

It is believed to have been launched in response to the so-called Greek Beach Towel Movement (better known to locals as the Civic Movement) last summer, when residents of six Greek islands protested against the illegal occupation of beach hotels, bars and resorts.

“Greek law clearly states that no beach can be private,” said Nikos Boutsinis, owner of Santorini Hiking Company, which encourages tourists to get off the beaten path on Greece’s over-visited volcanic island. “I personally would like more restrictions to be implemented. I’m sure there are concerns that there may not be enough sunbeds for everyone, but who wants to swim and sunbathe in an overcrowded and overdeveloped destination?”

While previous laws specified that only half of the beach should be leased to private companies, aerial photos taken last year showed sun loungers inundating many of the country’s most popular sandy beaches.

“Locals feel like outsiders in their own communities due to growing frustration with intrusive investors and a decline in quality of life due to overtourism. The situation on the beach may have been the final catalyst.” Co-founder of Digital Paros Guides said Nicolas Stephanou, who spearheaded the civic movement at his home on the celebrity-favorite Cyclades island.

British tourist interviewed I There is general support for the new rules. “I personally think this should have happened decades ago,” said Christine Duckhouse from Weston-super-Mare, who has been visiting Greece for decades.

Ms. Duckhouse uses a wheelchair but is happy to leave towels on the beach. “We have always believed that no one has the right to say this beach is theirs,” she said.

Caroline Meyer from London agreed. “Although spinal and knee problems mean I can’t put a towel on the beach, I still don’t want sunbeds covering the entire beach,” she told I.

However, the owner of Bumblebead Handmade Jewelery also expressed concerns about local livelihoods. “It’s concerning that so many local people who have invested in beach land and expensive furniture in recent years to build new businesses and provide jobs are being ripped off by this new law,” she said.

The bans will be enforced through regular drone inspections and fines, the Greek prime minister said in a TikTok appearance. However, some British tourists are skeptical. “I welcome the new rules but I just don’t believe they will be enforced,” said Phil Reed, from Maidstone, who has been a fan of the country’s beaches for more than 20 years.

Barbara Charlton of the Facebook travel page Share The World also doubted whether the bans would be adhered to. “I’m not sure anyone will monitor the new rules. Some inspectors will come alone and see too much [sunbeds] Go near the water and say a few words to the owner, then disappear. They would line up again at the same place the next day. ” she joked.

Vivienne Mills, a writer from Greater Manchester who now lives in Zakynthos, hopes the rule change will have a positive impact on the environment. “Sometimes changes need to be made because if we want certain areas to continue to exist in the future, we need to protect them,” she said.

The Greek government is currently debating a controversial new bill that would bypass the 100-metre setback zone stipulated in the Protocol for the Integrated Management of Coastal Areas in the Mediterranean and allow construction to take place just 30m from the waterline.

Environmental groups fear the beach rules are simply an attempt to divert attention from the amendment, which could pose a greater threat to the country’s fragile coastline.