Beach resorts, Unimpresa: risk of speculation on concessions in small ports

"The expiry of maritime and beach concessions, set for next 31 December, runs the risk of turning into a big business for a few, large subjects, to the detriment of small local entrepreneurs. In fact, by virtue of the Burlando law, the municipal administrations could assign en bloc, to a single subject, all the concessions in force, creating, in essence, de facto monopolies that would guarantee the new holder of all licences an unacceptable dominant position'. Expressing concern is the president of Unimpresa, Giovanna Ferrara. "All this creates a real risk of speculation, which would be detrimental to the principles of encouraging greater competition between companies. Competition conceived, by its very nature, to guarantee competitiveness, better prices and more efficient services to end users, and which instead, would end up being circumvented'.

"We have read carefully, with amazement and even with concern, what is happening in the Municipality of Orbetello: the administration of the local authority in the province of Grosseto, in fact, approved, in mid-August, the project for the transformation into a tourist port of the landing place that currently exists in the town of Talamone. At the moment, only one private entity is competing, which, from January, could be awarded all the current 18 concessions, which up to now have been distributed among small private companies and amateur sports clubs," the president of Unimpresa explains. "A situation that would not only harm local operators, cutting out, making them die, activities, appreciated by holidaymakers and residents, that have a history of more than ten years; but that would also penalise sailing activities managed by associations belonging to national sports federations, with damage to sport, health and young people".