The City Council of Cartagena’s recent public tender for beach bars has resulted in six lots remaining vacant, including four along the Mar Menor. This could mean that popular beaches like Los Nietos, La Manga, and El Portús may be without bars this coming summer. Officials confirmed a total of sixty-one offers were received, which is five less than in the previous tender from two thousand twenty-one, reflecting growing disinterest among businesses.

Several beach bar concessions that the Council anticipated would not generate interest have indeed remained unallocated. These include many located in the southern coast of the Mar Menor, with some removed from the listing due to noise complaints and improper use of allocated spaces. The Shoreline Department now aims to carefully review the received offers, with some bidders having been notified to rectify their submissions.

In recent years, the number of beach bar concessions has seen a significant reduction, dropping from over fifty to just thirty-three in this latest tender. This initiative aimed to improve the quality of establishments amid challenges in filling licenses, however, it has yielded mixed results. The local administration has implemented new rules to ensure only one concession per entrepreneur, while placing greater emphasis on the visual appeal and service quality of the bids.

Additionally, a new sanctioning regime has been suggested by the State Demarcation of Coasts to expedite procedures if licenses need to be revoked for legislative non-compliance. The establishment of a beach bar is subject to stringent regulations under the Coastal Law, which aims to protect public use and the environment.