The beaches of Cala San Vicenc, Albercuix and Tamarells in Pollensa are still waiting for the town hall authorisation to go through for services to be allowed.
Brit tourists are staying away from there Majorca hotspots facing a sunbed and umbrella shortage. The issue is sparking concern for local hotels and businesses that rely on tourists flocking to their stunning shores.
Cala San Vicenc, Albercuix and Tamarells in Pollensa are still awaiting town hall approval for beach services to be reinstated. At the moment, many holidaymakers are staying away – and locals are being left out of work.
Jaume Salas, the president of the hoteliers, told the Majorca Daily Bulletin: “Many of the users have opted to go to Alcudia, for all the amenities that its beach services,” and “Families, who come with children and with elderly people, want to be able to lie on a sun bed and enjoy some shade.”
Salas also mentioned that Pollensa mayor, Marti March, “is aware of the situation and has shown very good predisposition. The mayor has shown us his support and is doing everything possible to expedite the procedures.”
This isn’t an unfamiliar issue. Every four years, Pollensa town hall must reapply for beach service authorisation, which involves paying a fee to the Balearic government’s coasts department, reports the Express. Once granted, the council can then issue the tender, receive bids, and make awards.
However, when the initial tender failed to attract any bids due to a whopping 130 percent increase in the canon, Pollensa was forced to significantly slash the prices. As a result, the Port Resident Association (AVP), who has been bagging the tender for about four decades, applied and is likely to win owing to a lack of competition.
The issue should be sorted out swiftly, provided all paperwork is up-to-date and authorities ensure a seamless process. Yet, this delay has not only deterred tourists but also left 24 workers jobless and without income as they anxiously wait for the contract to be awarded.
Council sources have revealed that beach cleaning and preparation are set to kick off this week so that sunbeds and umbrellas can be installed as soon as the contract is finalised. This news comes as holidaymakers across Majorca have been cautioned about the powerful ‘rip currents’, with five Germans being saved by emergency services just last week.
“Always let a lifeguard make a rip current rescue because often, the people that try to make rescues themselves end up being the ones who drown” warned Ocean Today. They add: “Instead, the best way to help is to throw them something that floats and immediately get a lifeguard for help.”
