In the context of the Local Government reform, a lot of data will change. Among other things, the beaches will leave the hands of the Ministry of Interior and the Central Committee of Beaches and will go to the Ministry of Tourism, according to today's report by the newspaper "Phileleftheros".
In Cyprus there are a total of 160 registered beaches of the local authorities with approved beach use plans by the Central Beach Committee. Municipalities will continue to be responsible for staffing and management, but policy-making is the responsibility of the ministry. There are also many issues concerning the beaches that need to be reviewed. Issues of safety, cleanliness, accessibility for the disabled, their management, development and promotion. However, they will be put on the table at a later stage as the first step is to pass legislation.
According to information cited in today's report by the newspaper "Phileleftheros", within the framework of the local government reform, a bill will be passed in Parliament in February to change the operating framework of the beaches. The consultations between the Ministry of Interior and the Union of Municipalities are at an end point, in order to lock the final touches.
From now on, the Ministry of Tourism will have a supervisory role and will be the responsible body for policy-making on beach issues, while the management of the beaches (recruitment of lifeguards, cleaning, buoys at sea, sunbeds) will remain in the municipalities. In general, in matters of security, the provisions of the legislation will remain the same. Once the legislation is adopted, in the long run, the state ministry can make the changes it deems necessary.
Savvas Perdios did not hide his intention to create themed beaches, something that will differentiate the tourist product. In fact, it is considering the possibility of categorizing the beaches of Cyprus, such as the model of categorizing hotel units. As mentioned earlier, some beaches may be offered for more mass tourism, others may be offered only for adults, others may be offered for luxury services at a similar charge.
The Ministry of State is already running grant schemes for the construction of ramps / corridors so that people with disabilities have access to the sea. Also, the Ministry of Tourism is preparing a new service where every tourist (local and foreign) will have the opportunity to evaluate and give feedback commenting on the good and bad.
In the meantime, a draft law of the Ecologists is pending for the free access of dogs to those beaches that are not declared by the competent central committee as bathing beaches. Also, before the parliamentary committee of the Interior, a bill was submitted that ensures that sufficient space will be provided near the sea for those bathers who do not want to rent a bed or umbrella and prefer to use their own umbrella or towel. During their discussion last Monday, the Ministry of Interior was asked for time to prepare the new legislation for the beaches.
Source: Phileleftheros / Dimitra Landou