The resort of Salou on the Costa Daurada, south of Barcelona, has become the first place in Spain to ban shirtless and bikini-clad tourists in a bid to clean up its reputation.
The Daily Telegraph in the UK reports that In a set of new by-laws passed by the town council those who flout the ban could be fined between €100 and €300.
Those caught drinking alcohol on the streets or having sex on the beach could also be prosecuted and beachwear will be banned from all but beachfront bars and restaurants.
“We want to ensure that Salou has a good image,” said the mayor, Pere Granados, explaining the move.
Earlier this year locals complained about the drunken behaviour of British students who flocked to the resort for the Easter holidays.
More than 5,000 British students aged between 18 and 23 crowded into the town 70 miles south of Barcelona to attend “Saloufest” an annual party organised by university sports clubs.
Residents complained of “streets running with vomit” after scantily clad students spent their nights binge drinking and indulging in “anti-social behaviour”.
The bikini ban signals a growing unease in Spain against those sunburnt northern European tourists who offend the local population by walking in the streets, dining in restaurants and even doing their shopping in little more than beachwear.
“It is not normal to go the market with your packet on show or round the tourist sites in a thong.” said Alberto del Hierro, councillor for Tourism in Salou.
