Cartagena and Region Hospitality and Tourism Entrepreneurs Association, representing beach bar owners, presented a formal request to the City of Murcia. The central concern was calculating the occupancy rates for beach bars along the Mar Menor. The association argues that the current conditions are jeopardizing the survival of many venues since the lagoon’s deteriorated state is affecting demand, operations, and ultimately livelihoods. The owners stress that waves of changes in the lagoon have led to property auctions that were originally valued under healthier conditions, leaving businesses trying to navigate a much more challenging environment today.
In addition, they report that even with subdued tourist activity and a shorter peak season, these businesses are obligated to meet financial commitments well before the season naturally ends. The burden of meeting fixed costs in a period of reduced turnover creates a tension that many operators feel cannot be sustained by the accommodation and hospitality sector alone. The situation is described as a concession to a reduced flow of visitors while fixed expenses remain constant, pressuring profit margins.
Hostecar highlights that the establishments, located along the shores of the Mar Menor, have had to adjust their operating hours to cope with the dreary tourist outlook. Some venues have shifted to afternoon service and, in several cases, extend into the night to capture any possible footfall. The aim is to balance limited daytime traffic with a window of opportunity after dusk, when residual visitors might still be present.
Juan Jose Lopez, head of Hostecar, criticized the City Council for pursuing beach bars in June to collect wages planned for September without fully considering the ongoing crisis facing the sector. The statement reflects a wider concern about the timing and applicability of financial obligations during a period of fragile demand.
The City Council maintains that this year mirrors previous ones, noting that pandemic-era terms are still in effect and that last year’s concession conditions apply. The administration also reminded stakeholders that there has been subsidy support toward the municipal portion of the rate and that charges are based on the active hours during which the beach bars operate. Officials emphasize that aid packages were delivered under pandemic-related restrictions that dramatically reshaped the business landscape. They point out that direct assistance was extended to the accommodation sector during the height of the health crisis, including significant direct funding and a waiver of terrace fees since the outset of the epidemic.
Prediction and security
From within Hostecar, there was a call to the City Council to monitor and address issues stemming from large youth gatherings in the Las Dunas area near Cabo de Palos, as well as urban activity in previous summer seasons near the local church. The association argues that proactively addressing these disturbances is essential. They advocate for listening to vulnerable stakeholders, including local merchants, neighborhood groups, and cultural entities that have faced recurring disruptions due to delayed action by the public administration. The goal is to contribute practical solutions that stabilize summer trade and preserve the social fabric of the coastal towns.