A drop off box for Lalaria Beach pebbles is now found at Skiathos airport, encouraging tourists to return the pebbles before they leave the popular Greek island.
Residents on the Sporadic island are appealing to visitors to take only photos of one of their most beautiful beaches, which appeared in the hit musical ‘Mamma Mia!,’ and not to remove any of the pebbles, which they are taking as souvenirs.
Officials on the island of Skiathos note they have now taken action to prevent the beach from being stripped bare, as so many people seem to think it’s ok to take the pebbles.
Tourists discovered taking pebbles can now be fined up to 1,000 euros under a new law.
‘We had no other choice,” explained Thodoris Tzoumas, head of the island’s cultural association.
Posters have been pinned up on cruise boats and a billboard is now displayed on the beach asking tourists to “Take a picture not a pebble.”
The cultural association says the beach’s larger pebbles have almost entirely disappeared, nevertheless, return boxes at the airport appeared to be working.
“They have only been there a few days and they are beginning to fill up,” Tzoumas told reporters.
Read more at greekcitytimes.com
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
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