Italy: Over 500,000 people in collective dive into sea to save beaches

Rome, 8 Aug. (AKI) - Half-a-million tourists are expected to take a collective dive into the sea on Saturday to protest the goverment's plan to auction off the beach concessions.

The protesters in Tuscany and other regions plan to form human chains throughout Italy's enormous coastline and cast themselves into the water. Last year some 200,000 took part in the event organised by an organisation representing thousands of concessions.

Italy under pressure from the European Union plans to open up the beach consession business that includes areas with snack bars and sunbeds to more competition by holding auctions.

"We will not give up," said Riccardo Borgo, who represents an organisation consisting of operators of 30,000 concessions.

Members of Borgo's organisation on Friday opened the concessions late to protest the auction plan.