With the tenders for beach concessions, scheduled by December 31st under the current law, the prices of beach services will increase to the detriment of consumers. Federcontributori reports this. The consequence of the application of the Bolkestein directive, claims the consumer protection association, is “the significant impact not only on seaside activities and beach management in Italy in general, but also on users”.
«It is almost mathematical – states Federcontribuenti – that an increase in the cost of concessions will impact the price of the services offered, and therefore on consumers. Alternatively, if financially strong groups participate in the tenders, nothing prevents the occurrence of a phenomenon of concentration of concessions, with standardization of services and prices”. The reference seems to be to the case of Jesolo, where several concessions won by a company headed by the owner of Geox were merged, with a consequent 50% increase in beach services.
To increase Federcontribuenti’s doubts, in addition to the possible «significant changes in the Italian beach sector in the coming years, in the form of changes in management and ownership, which could lead to a shift from entrepreneurial to financial control», there are also «the municipalities Italians, who proved to be absolutely incapable of identifying the areas used as public beaches”.
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