Cesena, September 13, 2026 – Temperatures drop with the first rains of September, but the beaches of the Riviera are hotter than ever, because on the eve of the publication of the tenders for state concession leases, in addition to many local entrepreneurs, multinational companies, funds, and large economic, financial, and industrial groups are interested in taking over the management of the beach establishments. The game in the province of Forlì-Cesena involves 170 beaches.
Meneghello: “The fear is that a winning model could be distorted”
Ilaria Meneghello, vice president of the Cesenatico Beach Establishments Cooperative which associates 127 companies, is worried about the future: “Obviously we don’t know who will apply for the tenders; for some time there have been rumors about the presence of large groups interested in the beaches and the fear is that a winning model could be distorted. The idea of those who support the need to renew ourselves is fine, but they have prevented us from doing so, because until now entrepreneurs have been prevented from investing, without having the guarantee of a future. Some have sold because there are families exhausted by a situation that psychologically devastates us. Most of us are small entrepreneurs, families, some have mortgaged their homes to have a beach establishment, so it’s tough; if big groups arrive, our concern is that the fundamental aspect of our Riviera, hospitality and the human relationship, will be lost. We know the children of three generations by name, our guests are like family and there is a real risk of losing the Romagna model that has always held, that of families working by hosting families, because beyond the wallet, we have a face and a heart.”
Bondi: “Our hope, however, is to find an agreement”
Massimo Bondi, president of Gatteo Mare Summer Village, leads 30 beach establishments that have specific characteristics, as he explains: “In Gatteo we all have private ownership of the land on which our establishments were built where there are bars, refreshment points, and cabins; therefore, for these activities we are not subject to the Bolkestein directive. Of these 30 establishments, ten also hold beach rights, while twenty will go to tender.” “In this situation – concludes Massimo Bondi – it is rather unlikely that large financial groups will insinuate themselves and intervene to invest on the beach of Gatteo Mare. Our hope, however, is to find an agreement among the companies that manage establishments with refreshment points and beach, in order to have an organic management, which is the only winning model in Romagna.”
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From San Mauro Mare to Savignano Mare
In San Mauro Mare there are about a dozen beaches and Alessandro Delvecchio is relatively calm: “We have mostly private beaches, so we don’t suffer too much from the pressure of multinationals. It will be necessary to understand how the tenders will be organized, because we have “temporary” ones, that is, strips of a few meters of beach on the shoreline, which are leased for shading use; we have been following the issue for years and there are no particular concerns.” In Savignano Mare the beach establishment of Camping Villaggio Rubicone is also on private land.
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