An assembly was held yesterday in Lamezia Terme which highlighted the tensions and concerns of Calabria’s seaside entrepreneurs.
The main reason for the meeting? The ruling of the Council of State which obliges local administrations to revoke any exceptions to the concessions of bathing establishments by the end of the current year. Organized by Assobalneari Italia and Assobalneari Calabria, with the support of FederTurismo Confindustria, the event represented a moment of clarification and opposition for the sector.
The President of Assobalneari Italia, Fabrizio Licordari, took on a central role in voicing the concerns of the entrepreneurs present. He highlighted the vital economic and social role of beach establishments, challenging the distorted idea that portrays them as privileged. Licordari underlined the heavy fiscal and regulatory burdens that weigh on the sector, highlighting the hard work and investments of entrepreneurs, threatened by the ruling of the Council of State.
Among the interventions of the participants, a strong sense of distrust towards the institutions and the judicial system emerged. Many entrepreneurs feel abandoned in the face of a legal decision that threatens to erase years of sacrifices and investments. The mayors’ apparent inertia in the face of this situation has further increased tensions.
The assembly in Lamezia was an appeal to the Government and European institutions to consider the real needs and difficulties of the Calabrian seaside sector. Entrepreneurs ask for a correct application of the European directives, which takes into account the territorial specificities and the economic importance of the bathing establishments.
A few weeks before the start of the summer season, the uncertainty and nervousness among Calabrian seaside entrepreneurs are palpable. The assembly in Lamezia represented a desperate attempt to make one’s voice heard and to defend the future of a vital sector for the economy and identity of Calabria.
