The ticket for Mari Pintau is postponed to 2025, and while in Quartu Sant'Elena it is decided that the delicate ecosystem of this beach can suffer the crush of thousands of bodies in the sun for one more summer, two other beaches from Santa Teresa Gallura and Arzachena – Rena Bianca and Le Piscine di Cannigione – are added to the list of beaches with limited access. The front of mayors is growing in Sardinia as they raise the barrier of tickets, paid parking and limited entrances in defense of the most sensitive beaches besieged by holidaymakers.
The map of the protected areas
In San Teodoro Cala Brandinchi and Lu Impostu have a limited number of people: maximum 1,447 people in the first; 3,352 in the second. In Stintino, access to the Pelosa beach is allowed to a maximum of 1500 swimmers; in Villasimius 450 admitted to Porto Sa Ruxi and 700 to Punta Molentis; Teulada reserves entry to Tuerredda to 1,100 people. And then La Maddalena, Orosei, Baunei, Santa Teresa Gallura (1,015 in Rena Bianca) and Arzachena. «If there is a need to introduce a limited number to preserve an environmental asset, it means that, at least in some territories, we are have reached the saturation limit, or are very close to it", underlines tourism councilor Franco Cuccureddu. This "must make us reflect on what type of tourism we want and what strategies we need to focus on."
Drought
The case of half-empty reservoirs is also frightening on the tourism side, leading to a scenario of rationed water even in hotels. Because the intention, obviously, is to favor the resident population and not subject them to the need to give water to tourists.
