Prices on Cala Millor Beach: Why Sunbeds Could Become More Expensive

Prices on Cala Millor Beach: Why Sunbeds Could Become More Expensive

A reality check on the new concession and what it means for visitors and residents

Key question: Should the public now factor in that parasols and sunbeds in Cala Millor will become more expensive — and if so, who bears the higher costs?

The facts are clear: For the new operator of beach equipment in Cala Millor, the procurement procedure calls for an upfront payment of €3.4 million for a period of four years. The takeover includes a total of 1,446 sunbeds, 124 higher-end loungers, 785 mini-safes and 785 parasols. In addition there are motorized and non-motorized watersports items — a waterski boat with parachute, 14 pedal boats, ten paddleboards and seven kayaks — as well as the installation of new webcams and a book-lending service. Bids can be submitted until March 6. The municipality also requires the operator to advise visitors on sustainable handling of the sand; the bay has lost sand in places in recent years and has at times been replenished.

Critical analysis: A high license fee like €3.4 million is a clear cost driver. If a company has to cover that sum plus ongoing operating costs — staff, maintenance, insurance, security services, energy for webcams, replacement of beach equipment — it is economically likely that rental fees for sunbeds, parasols and hire items will be set higher. It remains unclear whether the municipality has specified price caps, discounted rates for locals or control mechanisms, a question raised in Why Palma is raising beach prices — who ultimately pays the surcharge?. Without such rules, the concession could lead to a more market-driven and less socially balanced beach access, as seen in Premium sunbeds in Cala Major: Palma under pressure — who protects the beach from commercial greed?.

What is missing from the public debate: transparency about the calculation of the high upfront payment, information on how the municipality will use the revenues and clear guidelines on how long-term protection of the narrowed beach is to be financed. Hardly discussed so far are data protection and insurance issues related to the additional services — webcams, book lending, watersports rentals, a topic that gained attention in Expensive 'Premium' sunbeds in Cala Major: Who decides what a beach visit is worth?. The effects on seasonal jobs and small businesses along the promenade have also only been touched on marginally.

Everyday scene from Cala Millor: In the morning on the promenade you hear the sound of the waves, the voices of tradespeople fixing beach chairs, and the clatter of sun loungers. Families with small children look warily at the narrower strip of sand near the water, while an older man takes a bag of books from the rental. A beach warden sticks notices about sand protection on an information board — good intention, but is that enough if prices rise?

Concrete solutions: First, the municipality should demand a transparent pricing model that sets a maximum fee for standard sunbeds and reduced rates for residents, families with young children and low-income people. Second, a performance-based remuneration model makes sense: instead of a large one-off payment, parts of the concession fee could be tied to performance targets — for example regular sand management, documented investments in sustainability or proof of affordable prices. Third, a public oversight body is needed to audit accounts and handle complaints. Fourth, data protection and security requirements for webcams must be clearly regulated; cameras can be useful but must not turn into surveillance of beachgoers. Fifth: a dedicated municipal fund for beach maintenance and sand nourishment, financed in part by concession payments, would ensure that beach upkeep is not cut where it matters.

Practical ideas for operator obligations: tiered pricing by time (cheaper early morning), combo tickets (sunbed plus safe), special prices for island residents and annual passes for regulars. Environmental checks should be mandatory: fewer engine hours for the waterski boat, defined zones for paddles and kayaks, information material in several languages about beach erosion, and operators should heed reports of changing demand such as Emptier sunbeds, growing worries: How is Mallorca reacting to more frugal beachgoers?. The book-lending service is charming — it should be free for children and residents to increase social acceptance.

Punchy conclusion: A beach is not a pure economic space, it is a commons. Awarding an expensive concession can put short-term money into the municipal coffers, but without clear rules there is a risk of privatizing beach use, which will show up in prices for visitors and residents. If Sant Llorenç des Cardassar and the future operator genuinely want Cala Millor to retain quality, accessibility and sustainability, they must design the conditions so that revenues flow into permanent beach maintenance, social tariffs and transparent oversight.