Rijeka Hilton beach dispute escalates as minister defends old concession

Minister of Maritime Affairs Oleg Butković affirmed that the 2023 Law on maritime public goods bans the enclosure of beaches, but the concession for the sand strip in front of the Hilton Costabella hotel in Rijeka was granted under the 2015 legal framework and therefore remains valid. He noted that 15 Croatian beaches are still enclosed under those old concessions and accused MP Marin Miletić of “populism” aimed at gaining political points.

Since early June, MP Marin Miletić has repeatedly cut the chains and locks the hotel placed on the access gate, calling the hotel’s actions a “circus” and insisting that the public’s right to the beach must be respected. He filed criminal complaints against the hotel’s management and warned of a mass protest if the barriers are reinstated.

Costabella (JTH Costabella) responded that the enclosure complies with the 2015 concession, which permits fencing without charging entry, and that existing contracts remain in force until 2045. The company highlighted an investment of over €6 million in the beach and more than €105 million in the hotel complex. Both sides cite legal provisions, while the dispute has become a focal point for broader concerns about public access to maritime resources.