The famed La Pelosa beach in Stintino attracts thousands of visitors every summer with its pristine white sand and turquoise waters.
Environmental impact studies have warned that excessive numbers of beachgoers threaten the beach’s ecosystem, prompting the local mayor, Antonio Diana, to introduce entry tickets and set a cap on visitor numbers to 1500 a day from next summer.
Diana told a council meeting on Monday that the measures would initially be implemented on a trial basis.
“The money collected from the fee would help to pay for the beach’s supervision and maintenance,” he added.
Smoking on La Pelosa has already been banned, while beach towels and bags are also forbidden to prevent bathers from removing sand accidentally or intentionally.
The theft of sand and shells from Sardinia’s beaches is a major problem and offenders can be fined up to €3000.
Authorities also plan to remove the paved road that leads to the beach to make it harder to access by car.
While some locals have criticised the strict regulations on what remains a public beach, Diana insists that protecting the fragile ecosystem is his priority.
