Beach umbrellas will be opened two hours late on Italian beaches on August 9th as a form of protest by beach operators from Fipe Confcommercio and Fiba Confesercenti. This action aims to draw attention to the unresolved issue of concessions.
The day before the protest, a letter will be distributed to all concession holders’ establishments. In this letter, industry operators express their frustration with “the paradoxical situation” they face due to uncertainties about their future and criticize “the inactivity of politics.” “We will apologize to our customers, but what else can we do? Stay silent?” says Antonio Capacchione, president of the Italian Beach Operators Union affiliated with Fipe Confcommercio.
“It’s been two years without any action from the government. We have sent eight letters to the Prime Minister requesting a meeting, but to no avail: she is responsible for our sector. If she doesn’t have time to meet us, she could delegate a deputy minister. No one has bothered to meet with our category: if this isn’t contempt, then what is? After two years, beach operators are fed up. We have made every effort to establish contact and dialogue,” he adds.
