Newsroom
Tension flared early Tuesday on a popular stretch of beach in Protaras as authorities moved in to remove what they say are illegal seaside structures used for massage services and water sports activities.
The operation is taking place on the beach area beneath the Flamingo and Constantinos the Great hotels, where several small businesses have been operating directly on the sand.
The Municipality of Paralimni is expected to proceed with demolitions, while police and officials from the Famagusta District Administration are already at the scene.
Officials say any structure within the protected beach zone is considered illegal and must be removed.
But the business owners are pushing back strongly, saying they were not properly informed and that the decision is putting their livelihoods at risk.
One owner of a massage business told reporters that they were only handed a document by the municipality late Monday afternoon instructing them to leave, reportedly under a ministerial order, with no prior warning that demolition would follow.
He argued that his structure is a permanent building, not a temporary unit, and that it was constructed with the necessary permissions. He also said the business had been licensed last year and that he had already submitted all required documents for this year’s renewal and was still waiting for approval.
“We know who is behind the complaints,” he said, adding that another similar structure nearby, located in front of a hotel, has not been targeted.
The owners say many of them are refugees who rely on these small businesses to make a living, especially during the tourism season.
At the time of reporting, efforts were underway to contact the relevant minister in an attempt to clarify or possibly halt the demolition process.
The situation remains tense, with authorities maintaining that enforcement of beach protection rules must go ahead, while business owners insist they are being unfairly treated and left without income during the peak tourist period.
