Plans to install canteens, umbrellas, and sunbeds on the renowned and environmentally protected beaches of Pori and Italida on Ano Koufonisi have been halted following strong local opposition and swift government intervention.
The suspension came after coordinated action by residents, municipal authorities, and local business owners, who raised concerns over a decision to lease parts of the two beaches for commercial use for the first time. In response, the General Secretariat for Public Property moved on Tuesday, Feb. 17, to immediately stop any procedures that could have led to licensing commercial installations on the sites.
The decision followed intervention by the Minister of National Economy and Finance, who acted promptly after receiving a request from the municipality to safeguard the beaches, widely recognized for both their natural beauty and ecological sensitivity.
The licensing freeze was widely welcomed by island residents and local officials, who feared that commercial development would alter the character of the coastline and damage fragile ecosystems.
Municipal representatives stressed that the beaches form part of protected archaeological and environmental zones within the Natura 2000 network and warned that even semi-permanent structures and organized beach equipment would increase disturbance, generate waste, and threaten local flora and fauna.
A formal directive from the General Secretariat instructed the relevant regional property authority to suspend the process, effectively accepting a last-minute appeal from the Municipality of Naxos and the Small Cyclades to prevent commercial occupation of sections of the beaches.
Municipal authorities argued that commercial facilities were incompatible with the natural landscape and conservation status of the area, emphasizing that protecting the region’s ecological integrity remained essential for both residents and sustainable tourism.
The halt to licensing procedures is seen locally as a significant victory for community efforts to preserve one of the Aegean’s most unspoiled coastal environments.
