FLASH
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This year, several European countries are imposing hefty fines on tourists who misbehave. But why now, and will this change the way people vacation?
Picture the scene: your flight has just landed in Antalya, Turkey, and you can't wait to get off the plane. You unbuckle your seatbelt, get up from your seat, and grab your bag, eager to get your vacation started. But you were a little too eager. A flight attendant pulls you aside and hands you an immediate 62-euro fine because you broke a new rule: starting this year, unbuckling your seatbelt or leaving your seat before the plane has stopped moving carries a fine.
It's a punishing start to your journey.
This summer, Europe is cracking down on unruly holidaymakers. From wearing flip-flops while driving to smoking on beaches, a new wave of tourist fines is sweeping the continent.
In Portugal's popular seaside town of Albufeira, wearing a swimsuit off the beach can cost you up to €1,500. In Spain's Balearic Islands, including Mallorca and Ibiza, fines for drinking alcohol in public can reach €3,000. Even minor infractions, such as not reserving a sunbed and disappearing, can have a negative impact on your holiday budget.
At first glance, these measures may seem like biting the hand that feeds, as many of these destinations earn a significant amount of money from tourism. But authorities say the rules are aimed at protecting residents and responsible vacationers.
“The rules, while they may seem rigid and punitive when listed, are all about encouraging responsible and empathetic travel,” said Jessica Harvey Taylor, Press Director at the Spanish Tourist Office in London.
In Malaga, Spain, a new 10-point campaign called "Improve Your Attitude" has been rolled out on buses, billboards and social media to outline the kind of behaviour expected in the city. It includes dressing respectfully, avoiding littering, making excessive noise and reckless use of electric scooters. Fines of up to 750 euros (£650) will be issued to those who fail to comply with the rules.
A similar code of conduct in public spaces was launched this year in Albufeira, banning everything from public nudity to public urination and abandoning shopping carts. Locals note that the resulting fines are not for show: police are visible in the city's main nightlife areas, and visitors are being fined.
"We must act with two main ideas in mind: protecting and preserving the environment; and ensuring that tourism is in harmony with our society," said Juan Antonio Amengual, mayor of Calvià, Mallorca, in a speech earlier this year. "Tourism cannot be a burden on citizens."
Walking in Italy's Cinque Terre in ill-fitting shoes can cost travelers up to €2,500. And France now fines smokers €90 on the spot for lighting up on public beaches and playgrounds.
Collecting a seashell in Greece can cost 1,000 euros (870 pounds); swimming in the canals of Venice, 350 euros (305 pounds).
How to avoid getting fined in Europe this summer
Fine: Up to 300 euros for driving in flip-flops, barefoot or sandals.
Where? Spain, Greece, Italy, France, Portugal
How to avoid it: Wear appropriate shoes for driving.
Fine: Up to 1,500 euros for wearing swimwear away from the beach.
Where? Barcelona, Albufeira, Split, Sorrento, Cannes, Venice
How to avoid it: Dress up when you leave the beach.
Fine: Up to 3,000 euros for drinking alcohol in public
Where? Majorca, Ibiza, Magaluf, Canary Islands
How to avoid it: Drink in moderation at a bar, restaurant, or in your own villa or apartment.
Fine: Up to 1,000 euros for taking a shell or pebble from the beach
Where? Greece
How to avoid it: Take a photo instead.
Fine: 350 euros for swimming in a canal
Where? Venice
How to avoid it: Remember that sewage flows into the canal; take a gondola ride instead. /Adapted from BBC/
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