by August 13, 2024, 3:38 p.m. | Updated: August 13, 2024, 3:40 p.m.
The Spanish police have joined the war against tourists.
Image: Getty
In Spain, the police are joining the fight against tourists by confiscating deckchairs and parasols from sunbathers who set up their things early and then leave them behind.
Popular holiday resorts on the Spanish mainland and in the Balearic and Canary Islands have introduced fines for beachgoers who leave their belongings behind for long periods of time.
The sun loungers and parasols are then taken to a police station and tourists have to pay the equivalent of £210 to collect them, MailOnline reports.
It is the latest in a series of Spanish measures aimed at reducing the number of tourists that are causing overcrowding in popular tourist destinations.
In Barcelona, anti-tourism protesters targeted guests by spraying them with water pistols and then blocking the exits of popular hotels.
Read more: Britons warn of two major changes before a holiday trip to Spain
Read more: Tourists visiting Spanish islands face fines of up to 1,500 euros under tightened law to curb alcohol holidays
Anti-tourism activists spray tourists dining in Barcelona with water pistols
In June, it was announced that tourists could be fined £170 for shopping from unlicensed beach traders under new proposals.
Plainclothes police officers will patrol the idyllic beaches of Torrevieja in southeastern Spain to catch tourists buying souvenirs from unlicensed sellers.
The mayor has asked police to patrol hotspots to enforce the new rules.
Read more: Spain’s government proposes early closure of bars and restaurants, sparking outrage among owners and angry tourists
Read more: Spain imposes €150 million fines on Ryanair, Easyjet and other low-cost airlines for “abusive” hand luggage and seat charges
The Spanish Balearic Islands recently tightened laws on street drinking and party boats to combat anti-social behaviour in tourist hotspots.
The stricter rules, based on legislation from 2020, apply to tourist hotspots such as Playa de Palma, Magaluf on Mallorca and Sant Antoni on Ibiza.
Under the expanded law, which comes into force on Saturday, people caught drinking outside authorised areas could face a fine of between 500 and 1,500 euros (430 to 1,290 pounds).
In addition, there will be a total ban on alcohol sales between 9.30pm and 8am in certain areas such as Magaluf, Llucmajor and Palma, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reported.
According to reports, the ban will last until at least December 2027.
The regulations also aim to tighten existing regulations against party boats, as they will be prohibited from coming within one nautical mile (1,852 km) of the designated areas.
British tourists could be fined £170 for shopping at unlicensed beach vendors on Spain’s Costa Blanca under new proposals.
Image: Alamy
