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NATURISM Banned IN Cyprus
THE POLICE have warned that anybody caught naked at a public beach could face up to two years in prison.

The issue came to light after a German couple complained that they could not find any official nudist beaches on the island while here on holiday.

Klauss Khun, who lives in Munich, told the Mail: “We are naturists, but the problem is we could not find one single nudist beach. I looked in some of the travel guides and there was no mention of them anywhere. A restaurant owner we got friendly with recommended Akamas and Pissouri, but we could not find any other naturists there either.”

According to the German, the island is missing out on tourist revenue by not having a nudist resort.

“In Spain and France, for example, it is an important sector of the tourist industry and even in Greece there are nudist resorts. Most are well signposted so there is no danger of offending locals who do not agree with this practice.”

He also said that in some EU countries, there are travel agents and brochures that specialise in naturist holidays, “so there will be not be a danger of Cyprus not getting customers if properly advertised.”

But a spokesman from the Police Press Office explained that, according to the Criminal Code, “nudity in any public place is illegal”.

He added that there are no legal nudist beaches on the island and anybody found to be sunbathing or swimming without clothes will be prosecuted.

When asked whether the all too-common sight of women on beaches covered up simply with a skimpy g-string is allowed, he said that technically, they were classified as clothed.

“Of course there are exceptions though. If somebody is sleeping naked at home and a sudden fire breaks out, for example, they will not be prosecuted for running outside. This goes without saying.”

Cyprus Tourism Organisation spokesman Pantelis Ioannides said that over the last few years, “there has not been much interest shown in this sector and it is not something which is part of our future plans, even though we are not rejecting it out of hand completely.”

A seasoned nudist on Greeknaturism.com explained the attraction.

“Naturism should not be related with any sexual search and is not the privilege of a certain group of people with a specific sexual orientation,” he explained.

He also made it clear that naturism should not be linked with exhibitionism and voyeurism.

“It includes the notion of eroticism, but it is not a sexual expression. Nude friends enjoy and share the experience of naturism as a pure expression of mental and psychic contact and not as a hidden sexist desire.”

He described it as an ideology, “since it is determined by a group of values like self-esteem, love of nature and freedom of expression. Nude friends can co-exist regardless of their sexual orientation.”

He added: “Naturism is not only a very nice way to know and love our self, but also to know and love others without any disguise, touching-up and hypocritical behaviour.”

According to the site, the following beaches are probably worth exploring:

Polis beach
About 500 metres on the Polis side of the Baths of Aphrodite tourist pavilion.
This beach used to be 100 per cent naturist (including occasionally some locals) but with the increase in tourists, it is now often a question of who gets down there first. The Marine Police boat goes past twice a day but has never bothered us.

Polis camping ground beach
Normally clothed but you can usually find a few naturist couples sunbathing under the bushes further along the beach, even in the middle of summer

Lara Turtle Beach
Outside the peak summer period you simply park yourself at least 30m from any clothed group and strip off. It will be unusual if other people don't start stripping off as well – always assuming the others are tourists and not locals!

Ayia Napa
Top free for women is standard at the beaches in town. If you go east from the town beach along the stone paved walkway there are several places to enjoy sunning and swimming naturally.
At either of two small beach coves, walk to the water and you will find a rock shelf. Carefully walk along this in water shoes. You will find concealed sandy sunning areas to use with screening from the walkway.

Governor's beach
A few miles east of Limassol there are said to be beaches used by naturists near Governor's Beach.
Barefooters who visited in October 2006 were the only male/female couple on this stretch of white chalky rocks.
My reporters say it is generally known as an, ‘all male’ area.

Avdimou
Unfortunately we have received reports from summer 2003 and 2004 in which naturist bathers were arrested and cautioned for naked bathing and told it was illegal. Large signs at both ends advise that nudists will be prosecuted and the Captain hears there have been several cases ending in substantial fines.

Ayios Georgios Coves
The coves and beaches south of Ayios Georgios are said to be frequented by naturists.

There are no naturist beaches as such in Cyprus but there are many stretches of little-used coastline where no one will get upset. Toplessness seems to be accepted everywhere.
“In general the locals don’t like naturism but are unlikely to complain unless they think you are annoying other paying tourists. The police are laid back and seem to have instructions not to upset any tourists, clothed or not. But the prevailing opinion seems to be that if there are any places suitable for going nude they must be at very difficult access points and rocky areas well along the coast, and definitely no sand access to sea.”

Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008