Alert in Palma beach tender: a businessman who owes more than 6 million has submitted a bid

PalmThe Association of Business Owners of Concessions and Temporary Service Operators in the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain of Mallorca (Adopuma) has warned of the risk of fraud in the bidding process for beach concessions in Palma, due to the participation of shell companies with "serious cases of malpractice." Sources within the association have maintained that in other municipalities of Mallorca, such as Calvià, Ses Salines, and Son Servera, "very serious situations arising from business malpractice" have occurred. According to the complaint, the businessman owes more than six million euros. They explained that this businessman, through shell companies created specifically to participate in public tenders, submits bids with very high fees. In this way, they asserted, he secures the concession and then "systematically fails to comply" with his obligations.

In this regard, the employers' association has warned that these companies not only fail to properly provide the awarded services, but also fail to pay the agreed fees and corresponding taxes.

One occupies the beaches

In the case of Calvià, according to the employers' association, the accumulated debt is around four million euros, while in Son Servera and Ses Salines it reaches 1.2 million euros in each municipality. These are contracts that, they explained, the Administration has not yet been able to resolve and which are akin to "having a squatter on the beaches who not only doesn't pay rent, but also keeps the entire season's revenue." For Adopuma, this history represents "a direct threat" to the tender for the five beaches in Palma. However, they believe that this new tender represents a great opportunity for Palma if "it is awarded based on rigorous, solvent, and responsible criteria." If so, they emphasized, the city will have beaches that "clearly prioritize service quality, professionalization of the sector, and adding value to the city's tourism offerings."

However, the employers' association will challenge any contracts that are not awarded with the prudence and rigor that, in their opinion, are required, especially if they detect the participation of shell companies. "The evident connection between them suggests that this beach businessman intends to apply the same tactic that has been so profitable in recent years in various municipalities of Mallorca," they warned.

Finally, they asserted that their intention is not to block public tenders but, on the one hand, to guarantee "transparent, solvent, and high-quality management" and, on the other, to ensure that the sector "is not tainted by the malpractice of a few."