An increase in the licence fee for businesses renting space on the beaches of Rhodes Town has increased from 24 to 80 euros a metre. The fees are charged on behalf of the government by ETAD, the Public Real Estate Company, which manages and develops the private real estate of the Greek State.

The national federation of umbrella operators has warned that this increase will have to be passed on to bathers, with the price for the use of an umbrella and sunbed likely to rise to 30 or 40 euros.