The municipal authority of Kymi-Aliveri on Evia Island has reportedly sent a document to the police addressing the presence of illegal campers at Thapsa Beach following the circulation of a viral photo depicting the coast occupied by numerous tents.
In addition, the municipality plans to dispatch cleaning crews to the beach and install signs informing visitors of the camping prohibition.
Thapsa is one of Greece’s 198 legally designated “untouched beaches” within the Natura 2000 network. These beaches are safeguarded against commercial exploitation to preserve their natural beauty.
However, this year, the beach has become increasingly popular as a camping destination following the municipality’s decision to pave a section of the previously inaccessible road, which was only accessible to off-road vehicles.
The individual who captured the viral photo described to Kathimerini the scene at Thapsa last weekend. According to them, the beach was overcrowded with not only umbrellas but also dozens of camping tents from people intending to stay overnight illegally.
Nikolaos Barakos, the mayor of Kymi-Aliveri, confirmed that last weekend, “not a single free spot” remained on the beach despite the nationwide ban on illegal camping.
“On the beach, there is an ‘occupation’ by campers, something unprecedented for Thapsa, although it has occurred on other well-known beaches of Evia for years,” he stated.
Illegal camping poses not only public health risks—local residents complained about an intense bad smell coming from the beach last weekend—but also risks of fire spread.
