The little-known Greek law that could see tourists fined over £700 | Travel News | Travel

The holiday company Parkdean Resorts has warned tourists to be mindful when travelling abroad to avoid facing expensive fines and, in some cases, time in prison.

Whilst, holidays are usually a time to kick back and relax, not obeying local laws could land travellers in hot water.

A spokesperson for Parkdean noted that it is illegal for tourists in various Greek destinations to take items such as sand and pebbles home as a souvenir.

They advised: “When going to the beach abroad this summer, be sure to not take home anything that doesn’t belong to you – including the beach itself!

“In Lalaria Beach in Skiathos, it is illegal for you to take pebbles home from the beach. If you do, you could be fined €900 (£771). In Sardinia, taking sand could cost you €3,000 (£2,569).”

Tourists in Greece were also advised by Parkdean to choose sensible footwear, with it being considered disrespectful to wear high heels at ancient monuments.

Whilst many travellers like to look stylish whilst they are away, the Greek Government introduced the law to prevent visitors from wearing footwear that could damage historic attractions.

Those found wearing shoes with the potential to cause damage at ancient wonders could receive a fine of up to €900 (£771).

However, Parkdean’s spokesperson noted that lesser-known laws exist elsewhere, stating that various Caribbean nations ban visitors from wearing camouflage clothing.

They added: “Several countries, including Barbados, Jamaica and St Lucia, have laws to stop people from wearing camouflage clothing.

“You could be fined up to $2,000 (£1,574) or even be put in jail for a year for wearing any garment in the style. This rule came into place as camo wear is often associated with ‘rebels’ and ‘troublemakers’.”

Finally, the spokesperson for Parkdean suggested that tourists planning to visit Australia should watch what they say.

Various states in the country, including Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, ban residents and visitors alike from swearing in public spaces.

Offenders of this law could be fined up to $240 (£126), however, those found using abusive language may also be jailed for up to six months.