The Municipalities of Kourion and Limassol are taking over the management of part of the services and facilities on their beaches, following the reportedly successful example of Ayia Napa, starting from this year. The aim is to benefit both the local communities and beachgoers, while the Municipality of Amathounta is also considering this possibility. The Municipality of Kourion has undertaken the management of services and facilities on the beaches of Kourion and Lady’s Mile, excluding the areas to the right and left of the restaurants. The goal, according to Mayor Mr. Pantelis Georgiou, is to provide quality service to citizens at a low cost.
According to the Mayor, the Kourion beach has already been equipped. On Lady’s Mile beach, since the sunbeds arrived in June and the turtle nesting season had already begun, it was jointly decided with the Environmental Department of the Bases not to place them for now. Instead, they will wait for the turtles to hatch and place them later. Regarding costs, the Mayor of Kourion clarified that in the areas managed by the Municipality, the fee will be €2.50, while visitors will be allowed to bring their own coolers or other equipment without any interference from the Municipality.
Mr. Georgiou also announced the start of procedures for the construction of restrooms and offices for beach inspectors, with provisions for people with disabilities. “We believe that all beaches should be accessible to everyone,” he emphasized. At the same time, the Municipality will proceed with placing recycling bins on 80% of both Lady’s Mile and Kourion beaches, aiming to strengthen environmental awareness and source separation.
“We want to set an example as a local authority that we must move forward, respecting the environment in which we operate,” concluded the Mayor. The Municipality of Limassol is also moving forward with the management of part of the Olympion coastline, which has not been leased to private individuals, regarding beach facilities such as sunbeds, umbrellas, etc. As Mayor Mr. Yiannis Armettis mentioned, this is a decision made by the previous Municipal Council to designate about 100 sunbed spaces, east and west of the “Thalassokoritso” kiosk, in an area that is not very commercial — next to the beach volleyball courts and on the other side.
The goal is for the Municipality to assess whether it can manage the facilities in the best possible way and in accordance with the law. “This is how we will test it, and relevant arrangements are already being made,” he noted. According to the Mayor, the umbrellas are already being set up, and the sunbeds that have been received will be placed soon. The service will operate during the summer, and — as expected — the Municipality will charge according to the prices set by the Beach Committee.
Mr. Armettis also mentioned that with the inclusion of Tserkez Chiflik into the Municipality, its boundaries now extend up to the second center on Lady’s Mile beach, and in cooperation with the Bases, it has been ensured that everything operates in accordance with the legislation regarding facilities and charges. Mr. Yiannis Armettis also announced that plans are being made for a general improvement and maintenance of the entire Olympion coastline, which will result in a redesign. After 15–20 years, the coastal front needs it, considering the significant increase in users and their needs.
Mayor of Amathounta Mr. Kyriakos Xydias expressed to “Entrepreneurial Limassol” his intention to proceed with a study on the possibility of managing beach facilities in certain areas of the Municipality’s coastline, noting that the beaches are divided into small sections, and it may be unfeasible for the local authority to manage them all.
