Italy's Riviera beach concessions face backlash over allocation rules and workers' rights

A draft tender for the reallocation of public beach concessions on the Romagna Riviera has triggered controversy among existing operators. Critics, including Confartigianato president Mauro Vanni, argue that extra points awarded to hotels near the shoreline and the reliance on the highest monetary offer create an uneven playing field and could bar smaller concessionaires from participation. The proposal also permits the concession fee to be used as a comparison criterion, raising legal concerns.

In the neighbouring Ligurian province of Savona, the trade union CGIL and the tourism association Filcams have called for a new model of beach access. They emphasize that the current distribution of sandlots, which favours private concessions, limits the public’s right to the sea and contributes to precarious, low‑paid seasonal work in the tourism sector. The unions propose a mixed system of free, equipped, and concessioned beaches to ensure affordable access and improve job quality for workers dependent on the coastal economy.