A well-known beach on Italy's Sardinia Island has banned tourists aged 10 to 65 from opening umbrellas or using sunshade devices, citing safety reasons after a fire once forced evacuations by boat.
Local Italian authorities have imposed controls at Punta Molentis beach, a popular spot on Sardinia, banning certain age groups of tourists from using umbrellas or sunshade devices on the beach this summer.
Under the new rule, people aged between 10 and 65 are not allowed to bring beach umbrellas, tents, or other shade structures onto the beach area.
The only exceptions are families with children under 10 and seniors aged 65 and above, who are permitted to use one large umbrella per family.
This measure has caused considerable dissatisfaction, as many believe banning umbrellas in such a hot climate could increase health risks, particularly heat-related illnesses and concerns over skin cancer prevention.
Additionally, from 5 June until the end of October, tourists visiting the beach must pay a fee of 10 euros (about 400 baht) each, while people with disabilities and their companions are exempted.
Although heavily criticized, the municipality of Villasimius, which manages the beach, stated that this measure is essential to prevent emergencies.
Officials revealed that last year a fire near the beach forced the evacuation of many tourists by boat.
The main problem was that the number of people and umbrellas crowded the area, blocking pathways and preventing vehicles or emergency personnel from accessing the site quickly.
Moreover, the beach lacks services typical of private beaches, so tourists often bring their own umbrellas packed closely together, which obstructs walkways and blocks sea views.
Italian beaches are known for strict organization, especially private ones where chairs and umbrellas are arranged systematically; fees for using these can range from 100 to 500 euros per day (about 4,000 to 20,000 baht), with some requiring seasonal reservations costing thousands of euros.
Many tourists regularly book the same spot each year, but these areas limit visitor numbers and prohibit bringing personal tents or chairs.
Previously, several Italian coastal towns imposed strict beach rules; for example, Sardinia banned removing sand from beaches, with violators facing fines up to 3,500 US dollars (about 120,000 baht).
Some places require tourists to use straw mats instead of towels to reduce sand sticking to fibers and being unintentionally removed from the beach.
Additionally, many beaches limit visiting hours to control crowding; some locations allow boat visitors only up to 90 minutes or require online reservations in advance.
. CNN
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