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Sopuruchi Onwuka
Holiday makers making their way to the Greek island of Balos were dumped into water as the large ferry floating them lowered its hatch to allow only fit passengers wade their way through the water to the exotic beach.
According to local media, authorities protecting the area from overtourism have banned the use of a floating platform in Balos, which would allow the passengers to disembark far more safely.
The hundreds of terrified tourists had to disembark from their ferry into the sea and wade slowly through neck-deep water to reach a natural beauty spot in Balos, Crete.
The lagoon is renowned in Crete for its pristine white sand and exotic turquoise waters and boasts rare animals and plants that have protected status, including Eleanora falcons, monk seals and loggerhead sea turtles.
Footage emerging on social media shows a throng of tourists forced to change into swimming costumes, disembark from the ferry’s hatch and hoist belongings above their heads while treading through the deep water to get to their destination.
A rope has been placed between the beach and the landing ferry as a way of guiding the tourists along.
Some can be heard nervously laughing at the situation and according to witnesses many are too frightened to even attempt the task.
Children and elderly people have also been forced to stay on the boat, with the crossing deemed too dangerous for them to try.
According to local media, one American tourist said it was an ‘unacceptable situation’ for the majority of passengers on board the ferries, which can take up to 900 people.
The tourist said: ‘Most people stayed on the ship out of fear. ‘Only about 40 people got off and everyone came back angry and disappointed.’
According to Greek news outlet in.gr, the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy imposed the ban to protect the beach from overtourism.
They have now however reversed this decision since seeing the footage, with a floating platform due to reopen again shortly, in.gr reports.
According to research site Statista, there were more than 800,000 visitors to Crete from the UK in 2023, the second highest after Germany, which sent 1.2million tourists to the Greek island.
