The town council in Mogán, in the south of the island of Gran Canaria, has today approved a new by-law that reserves 75% of its beaches for non smokers, only allowing smoking on the remaining 25%.
The move has already generated considerable controversy in the region, as PP councillors had wanted to make all the town's beaches non-smoking areas.
However, after meeting with representatives of the tourism sector, the majority political group has agreed to retain an area for smokers, but on the condition that cigarette butts are not thrown onto the sand.
The new regulations stipulate that the non-smoking beaches will be those with seasonal services, which are the most popular ones with tourists, which make a total of ten: La Lajilla, Las Marañuelas, Puerto Rico, Patalavaca, Aguamarina, Anfi, Amadores, El Cura, Taurito and Puerto de Mogán (pictured).
The news by-law was originally going to ban night-time swimming, but after lengthy negotiations, the town's mayor, Francisco González, admitted his "error", and the ban has been reduced to a mere recommendation.
