Blue sea (or almost), moderate prices for services: from today beaches open until the evening, Puglia inaugurates the summer and does not fear competition, at least that’s what Antonio Capacchione, president of Sib-Confcommercio, says.
«Let’s dispel the fake of high or even doubled prices – says the president of the Sib – we don’t know about it. And to avoid any type of speculation we will ask the Region to examine the price list that is asked of each concessionaire, in the previous autumn, as required by the law in Puglia – he says – we as seaside resorts are not about to have the label of who doubles costs without any kind of rule”.
For Sib there will be no type of change compared to the previous season. But Codacons goes on the attack: «We don’t yet have the list of services offered by the factories, from tomorrow (today, ed.) we will start checking as soon as they open», says Dario Durso, Codacons contact person in Bari.
But, in fact, according to the first statements, one thing is certain: the seaside destinations and breathtaking landscapes of Greece and Albania do not seem to scare Puglia. «First of all, isn’t it true that prices are lower abroad and then what services do they offer? – Sib continues – those who come to us come here for the sea, for the history, the archaeology, but also simply for a gastronomic tour and who has all this in Albania? We really don’t fear competition.”
The price of the service (umbrella, sunbeds, deckchairs or even higher options) changes depending on where you go: a lido in the fashionable Gallipoli, complete with an aperitif on the beach, will have a higher cost (up to 100 euros, according to the price list last year) compared to one that extends along the pebbly beaches of the Gargano. And then there are those who offer not only the sea, for example when you enter a beach club (many in Salento, but also in Polignano) you can expect infinity pools with salt water, playgrounds for children, beach towels sponge, straw umbrellas, sofas wrapped in curtains instead of the classic sunbed, restaurants offering quality food, open until late at night and voilà the lido turns into a disco. In short, there is the whole atmosphere to relax and the cost of services also rises. “It’s clear that all this costs more, but you choose whether to go or not”, continues the president of Sib.
The vision of Codacons is different, as it announces that it will start price controls from today and not only that: «Another thing to observe – continues Durso – is whether a right is respected: that is, free entry to the beaches, freedom to stop on the shoreline, possibility of bringing at least one sandwich from home. You can’t force people not to even bring water with them and then. not everyone can afford to go to a restaurant.”
For Codacons, Puglia, even if it remains as it is, has prices that are too high for an average family: «If the prices are those of last year and they range from 200 euros upwards, for a deckchair and an umbrella, it is not this is certainly a figure that can be afforded by all budgets. – says Durso – Consider the increase in life and inflation. In short, even if a family from Puglia decides to stay at home, not everyone can afford to spend 200 euros or more for a weekend in August, perhaps not even having the possibility of having lunch outside, but being content with a sandwich, brought by home”, concludes Durso.
As long as toxic algae or vermecane doesn’t arrive to ruin the summer and lower prices.
