Authorities in the town of Stintino in northwestern Sardinia have announced measures to protect the popular white-sand beach of La Pelosa. One idea is to ban towels entirely on this beach, as a lot of sand sticks to wet towels and is carried outside the beach area.
Moreover, some unscrupulous tourists deliberately collect valuable sand to take home as souvenirs from Sardinia, despite the strict ban. In response, the Stintino town hall plans to ban large bags from the beach, offering tourists the option of renting transparent beach bags instead. Instead of towels, vacationers will be required to rent mats or folding chairs. The prospect of incurring additional costs has outraged tourists, who have accused the town authorities of trying to turn Stintino into a "resort for the rich," according to The Local's Italian edition.
La Pelosa Beach is renowned for its beauty, but its popularity has been a disservice: during peak season, it attracts several thousand tourists daily. Last year, TripAdvisor users voted La Pelosa one of the top ten beaches in Italy, albeit with the caveat: "The most crowded beautiful beach."
Source: travel.ru