Spain to fine UK tourists £1,250 each if they ignore 'visible sign'

British holidaymakers have been warned by a Spanish council that those who swim on the local beaches in the area when red warning flags are up could be charged as much as £1,250.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


UK tourists have been issued a warning over swimming on a popular Spanish beach or face a hefty £1,250 fine. British holidaymakers have been warned by a Spanish council that those who swim on the local beaches in the area when red warning flags are up could be charged as much as £1,250.

Fuengirola beachgoers could be slapped with a fine of anywhere between €750 and £1,500 in the future, it is warned. The council in the European Union holiday hotspot has paved the way for a new law affecting the use of its beaches, which could impose big fines for swimming when a red flag is flying.

The new Beach Ordinance is said to include extending the patrol of lifeguards to include Easter and every weekend on the run up to summer. Another key change will be the introduction of tougher penalties for disobeying the ban on swimming on red flag days.

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Ignoring this warning will now be classified as a ‘very serious’ offence, which could lead to heavy fines. Euro Weekly News reports; "The new regulation also provides for a reduction in the amount of penalties for other infringements, and so seek to strike a balance between deterrence and proportionality."

According to Fuengirola Councillor for Beaches, José Sánchez, these modifications aim to improve safety. They also aim to improve the accessibility of the beaches while adapting to the current needs of beach users, the local authority has said.

The town hall plans to update its regulations to introduce the financial penalty, although some sports such as surfing will be excluded from the safety measure. The council also wants to extend the official bathing season to Easter and the weekends before summer.

Fuengirola is a town on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, known for its sandy beaches.