(Finance) – The adhesion to the project was patchy Beach workers’ strike organized by Sib-Confcommercio and Fiba-Confesercenti to protest the concessions. The two unions celebrate the “massive participation, between 70 and 80%”, but there are those, like Codacons speaks of a “flop” or, as the National Consumers Union puts it, of a “scene with biscuits and wine”.
“We have seen massive participation in the umbrella strike throughout Italy, beyond all expectations – he stated Antonio Capacchione, president of the Italian Beach Resort Union adhering to Fipe/Confcommercio And Maurizio Rustignoli, President of Fiba Confesercenti –. While on the one hand our customers have not suffered any inconvenience, on the other they have understood the reasons for the protest by showing their support and solidarity, as they appreciate the professionalism and passion that we put into our work, the result of years of experience. They have shown that they have understood well, in fact, that the situation is dramatic and beach entrepreneurs have no certainties for their future. Foreign tourists have also been struck by this initiative and the reasons for the strike which intends to defend the tradition of 30 thousand Italian beach businesses and the work of 100 thousand direct employees who exceed one million with the induced. Many customers – they reported – have called it the ‘gentle strike’, in several coastlines, then, coffee and croissants were offered to compensate for the small inconvenience. Everything took place in complete safety and without problems of any kind. During the national mobilization, then, all the other many services offered by the beach establishments, ‘the flagship’ of the Italian tourist offer, were guaranteed. In light of the rumors that the Government will take action in early September, we have decided to cancel the other two scheduled dates: August 19 and 29. We are absolutely determined – the presidents of Sib and Fiba specified – to defend our companies and our work, at all costs. The time to wait is over, as is our patience. We have the strength and perseverance, as well as the support of the entire category, to move forward until we have certain rules that can allow us to continue to represent a sector of excellence in our tourist offer, envied and, above all, copied by other countries. Otherwise, 2025 will be remembered as the year that decreed the end of tourism in the Belpaese”.
According to the government line, the current concessions are to be considered valid until 31 December 2024, with the faculty of the Municipalities to postpone by one year in the presence of disputes or other objective reasons that prevent the tenders from proceeding. The reorganization could arrive within the infringement prevention decree. The hypothesis put forward by a part of the majority would be an extension of the concessions to 2030 in the Regions where the percentage of occupied beaches is less than 25%; where the quantity of free beaches is small, the tenders would go ahead, guaranteeing pre-emption and compensation to the current managers. Brussels has already made it known that “the reasoned opinion” sent to Rome in November “is the last step before a possible referral to the EU Court of Justice”. In the meantime, local authorities are taking action. Today the Municipality of Genoa receives the double green light from the TAR to the public tender procedure to assign the concessions.