Tourists face a fine of 3,000 euros, or 124,000 hryvnias, for stealing pink sand on Spiaggia Rosa beach on the Italian island of Budelli near Sardinia. It is also forbidden to step on the sand under the threat of a fine of 500 euros, i.e. more than 20,000 hryvnias, the Daily Star reported.
Spiaggia Rosa, or Pink Beach, in Italy, is famous for its bright pink sand and blue water, but tourism is taking a toll on the place. In connection with this, the authorities declared that now it should be admired only from afar, during organized sea walks. Tourists are strictly prohibited from going to the beach, walking on it, and taking pictures.
Violators who stepped on the pink sand faced a fine of 500 euros. “The beach is in danger again because people arrive by boat, fight on the beach, and then publish photos, which allows us to fine them 500 euros,” said Fabrizio Fonnesu, director of the Maddalena Archipelago National Park.
It is also prohibited to remove sand from the beach. A fine of 3,000 euros is provided for it. This ban was introduced back in the 1980s when the beach faced the first mass influx of tourists, many of whom stole the pink sand, which began to affect the ecology and appearance of the coast.