Italian beach establishments close umbrellas briefly to protest long-delayed liberalization plans
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Italian beach establishments mounted a symbolic two-hour strike early Friday aimed at pressuring the government not to enact a decades-old EU directive to allow more competition in the sector, long a symbol of Italy’s failure to reform the economy. Italy’s 6,500 beach concessions generate some 1.4 billion euros in annual revenues, paying just 120 million in licensing fees to operate their business along Italy's public beaches, according to government auditors. The beach concessions, which usually include a bar or restaurant and changing rooms along with umbrellas and lounge chairs, are often handed down from generation to generation.
History of this topic
Italy approves new rules that could make a visit to the beach a lot cheaper
The Independent
Italy approves new rules to put beach concessions up for bidding by 2027
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Italy’s famed beaches are set to change forever thanks to a new law
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Long-running battle over lucrative beach concessions between Italy and EU could be in final chapter
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Long-running battle over lucrative beach concessions between Italy and EU could be in final chapter
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Setting foot on Italy’s protected pink-sand beach could cost you €500
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Beach in Sardinia to start charging tourists for entry because it is so overcrowded
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