DistantNews
Support us
Greece’s ‘paradise’ beach becomes ‘hell on earth’ as tourists overwhelm it
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Environment & Climate

Greece’s ‘paradise’ beach becomes ‘hell on earth’ as tourists overwhelm it

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth From a news agency New plan
  • Balos Beach on Crete became severely overcrowded after thousands of tourists arrived, with boats continuing to bring visitors to an already packed shoreline.
  • Authorities are considering limiting access to 1,200 people every three hours, whether they arrive by boat or land.
  • Other Greek destinations also faced heavy crowds, including two-hour queues in Oia, while more than 2.4 million visitors pass through the island’s airport each year.

Balos Beach, one of Crete’s most celebrated coastal destinations, has been described as “hell on earth” after thousands of tourists crowded the site last month.

Video footage from the beach at the northwestern tip of Crete showed visitors arriving continuously. The shoreline had already filled beyond comfortable capacity, yet more people kept coming by boat. The crush left visitors with little room to move.

Balos is known for its blue water and striking views, attractions that draw thousands of visitors every year. Local media reported that authorities are now working on ways to limit access and protect the area’s environmental sustainability. A new proposal would allow no more than 1,200 people on the beach during each three-hour period, including visitors arriving by boat and by land.

The pressure extends beyond Crete. Popular sites across Greece were also overwhelmed during last month’s summer season. In Oia, a cliffside village known for its photogenic views, visitors waited in lines for two hours to find the best spot for photographs. Videos posted on social media have highlighted how the once-quiet Aegean islands now receive more than 2.4 million visitors through their airport each year.

About this summary

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog