When heading off to the beach, it’s important to remember the essentials: A towel? Check. Your bag? Check. After all, you wouldn’t want to get sand on you.
However, authorities in Stintino, a small town on the northwest tip of Sardinia, are waging war against these essential items in order to protect its pure white sands.
This is because, according to Italian news source The Local, the beach is losing sand at an “alarming rate”.
Slapping down a towel ban is just one of the measures in place to protect La Pelosa beach, which is known to attract several thousand tourists each day.
The ban was imposed by Mayor Antonio Diana, to stop thousands of tourists who would be visiting the beach in 2018 from taking the precious sand away from the beach.
Instead, tourists will be made throw in their towels for folding chairs and mats which they must rent. Beach bags are also in the firing line and must be swapped for reusable see-through bags.
This is to stop sand collectors from taking a souvenir home with them.
There’s even talk of plans to build an elevated walkway over the sand, to stop sand being taken away on the feet of holidaymakers.
If this wasn’t enough, security guards may even set up shop at the beach to make sure tourists don’t fall out of line, according to The Sun.
In recent years, the mayor has restricted car access to the beach and pedestrianising its entrance.
Diana’s new rules have come under some criticism, with opponents accusing him of trying to turn Stintino into a resort reserved for wealthy tourists only.
Once a quiet fisherman’s village, the pristine white sands and ankle-deep waters of La Pelosa’s have made its popularity soar, culminating in it being recently ranked as one of the best beaches in Europe by TripAdvisor users.
However, Dr Lyndsey Dodds, Head of UK Marine at WWF, has provided some tricks to help protect beaches whilst on holiday.
Dodds told Express.co.uk: “When we’re enjoying the sun and sea on our holiday it’s really important to be respectful of the beach and minimise the damage.
“We can all do this through simple steps like not taking single use plastic items with us like plastic bags that is wreaking havoc on our oceans, not leaving anything you’ve brought with you, and making sure you shake off all the sand on the beach.”
