Beaches in several parts of Spain have had to turn away sun seekers for the second weekend running.
Three picture-postcard beaches in the kitesurfer’s paradise of Tarifa on the Costa de la Luz had reached their maximum capacity by 2pm on Sunday.
They include beautiful Bolonia beach, a short drive west of the town centre.
Police blocked off the only access road to the beach as day trippers from areas like Marbella continued to arrive despite the local town hall announcing on a mobile phone app it was at maximum capacity.
The coves of Les Rotes south of Denia on the Costa Blanca also had to put up ‘full’ signs.
On Saturday they reportedly reached maximum capacity around 1pm on Saturday, the fourth time so far this summer sun seekers had been turned away.
The smallest coves on the popular stretch of coastline can only be used by six to ten people and the largest beach of El Trampoli by 84 people to ensure social distancing rules are respected.
In contrast a pre-booking system announced by Benidorm Town Hall earlier this month has yet to kick into action.
The system was expected to be up and running early next month.
But for the meantime foreign tourists who want to enjoy its famous Poniente and Levante beaches can still do without having to book their spot on the sand.
Benidorm Town Hall officials described the beaches in the famous Costa Blanca resort this weekend as busier than last weekend.
A well-placed town hall source said: “There’s a lot more people around but until mid-July things will still be on half gas.
“No more than 25 per cent of Benidorm’s hotels will be open until the first days of July.”
Another added: “The pre-booking system will begin to operate when it is needed.
“It was designed to manage 28,000 people and while we’re still under 20,000 users it’s not needed.”
Local media have put the cost of the development of the mobile phone app linked to the system at £575,000.
Sunseekers trying to book their space on the beach in Benidorm on Monday were greeted by an instruction video and the message: “Choose the beach and book your space. Proximamente.” which in English means ‘Coming soon.’
