Visitors to Elafonissi this summer are finding it much changed from the picture it has presented in recent years. Restrictions on the numbers of umbrellas and sunbeds and a ban on cars entering the protected area have changed the appearance of this environmentally sensitive site for the better, though quite a few things remain to be done.
The beach is managed by two different municipalities – Kissamos and Kantanos-Selino – which are running parallel operations to ensure enforcement of the new arrangements. The Haniotika Nea carried out some on-the-spot research, interviewing officials from both municipalities and some of the foreign visitors arriving at the beach.
Two car parks are in operation while a large, third parking lot which will accommodate tourist buses is due to open shortly. There are now barriers preventing drivers entering the protected area, with staff on hand to guide drivers and advise them of the new arrangements. Visitors must walk down to the beach from the car parks via footpaths and on wooden walkways constructed across the sand dunes. Exceptions are made for people with disabilities, who can be driven down to the beach by arrangement with the staff.
Visitors find the area improved
The newspaper questioned an Italian family, some visitors from Poland, and three American women tourists, who all agreed that the removal of cars had improved things, and that the walk of a few hundred metres to the beach was not a problem. A tourist guide who brings visitors twice a week from Hersonissos and Malia near Heraklion said: “This is how we want to see Elafonissi,” adding, “We who work in tourism know that what has been done is to the benefit of the area and protects it.”
Whereas before more than 700 umbrellas and sunbeds were allowed on the beach by the two municipalities, now there are only 180 – 90 in the northern section for the Municipality of Kissamos, and 90 in the southern section for the Municipality of Kantanos-Selino. The paper talked to Thodoris Skalidakis, the deputy mayor responsible for the Kissamos municipal unit of Innachori, which includes part of the beach.
“The picture has already improved very much. Both the visitors and the guides are telling us that. There’s no comparison with the previous years,” he said. “What we are doing is in accordance with the suggestions of the Ministry, NECCA, and the responsible services. The two municipalities have also removed the snack bars to the edges of the beach, leaving it open and accessible to all. With cars now banned, they have cleaned the trees which are no longer white from dust, because the cars raised an enormous amount of dust which settled on their leaves.”
Asked about the overcrowding which has long been a feature of Elafonissi he said: “Look, up till last year although we had 3-4 personnel helping people to park, the situation was out of control. At the beach then we had 5-6,000 people and there were not enough umbrellas. Now … our aim is for visitors to spend 3 hours at the beach and then leave, and go and see the other beautiful sights of the area.”
To discourage visitors from staying for long periods at the beach, the snack bars only stock the essentials (water, soft drinks, sandwiches) and there are no tables, except for people with special needs.
Waste disposal
Litter bins and larger rubbish containers have been installed at the beach and elsewhere. The staff of the Kissamos management company explained that in a few days they will start to recycle glass and plastic, and without those two materials the amount of waste produced at Elafonissi is very small.
As regards the illegal buildings which private owners have erected at various points in the environmentally sensitive area, they are expected to be removed shortly, while at the same time the two Municipalities are seeking to expropriate the pieces of private land which are within the protected zone.
Pink sand
Many visitors, mainly through ignorance, often take the beach’s characteristic pink sand as a souvenir, thereby downgrading the appearance of Elafonissi. At various points on the beach there are signs urging visitors not to take the pink sand with them. “This is an issue and in addition to the information we are asking anyone we see taking sand to empty it out. We will also put other signs. The Municipality’s plans include contracting environmental guides to inform visitors about the special environmental value of Elafonissi as well as its historic and archaeological significance,” Mr Skalidakis said.
(Haniotika Nea 16-05-23)