The box of chocolates with 20,000 euros uncovers the war for the millionaire swallows business
Two shipping companies have historically controlled Cala Millor, with a string of clashes that have ended up in court
PalmWhen she received the box of chocolates from one of Naviliers Bennassar's partners, Joaquina Ferrer, Director General of Coasts, decided not to open it because she wanted to share it with the officials. According to knowledgeable sources, she gave it to some members of her team who, upon opening it, couldn't believe what they saw. They immediately informed her, and Ferrer explained the find to the Minister of the Sea and Water Cycle, Juan Manuel Lafuente.
Lafuente contacted the Community's legal services – specifically, a person he trusted implicitly – and the instructions were clear: "The facts must be brought to the attention of the authorities". This was done, and the account of the events began to spread like wildfire among officials: an applicant for a concession from Coasts had delivered a box containing 20,000 euros.
This is just another, very striking, episode in an authorization that involves other incidents and business disputes: two companies, Naviliers Bennassar and Collado, have consolidated the tourist transport business in the Cala Millor area, an activity that moves a large number of passengers and economic resources.
The latest was the conflict over a ticket sales booth, as confirmed to el ARA Balears by sector sources. It is not an isolated incident, and the history is long and full of complaints, lawsuits, and convictions, often for the exclusive use of resources within the public domain – as in the case of the docks for tourist pick-up and drop-off. It is a structural dispute to control a tourist business with a high economic volume and a key resource – the Cala Millor dock – which has been at the center of controversy for decades.
The two companies regularly request permits to operate from the Administration, as some facilities are within the public domain and it is Costas (Coastal Authority) who must authorize the activity. Both have a long history of dealings with the State Coastal Demarcation and now also with the Directorate-General for Coasts and the Coastline. For years, they have had minor friction, such as one over the ticket sales point, until the Administration – at that time still in the hands of the State – decided about a decade ago that they would alternate annually at the sales point to put an end to the discussions.
The alternation mechanism failed a few years ago, when one of the companies did not respect the end of the period it was entitled to and refused to withdraw. This triggered a new confrontation between operators that ended with a complaint.
A privatized dock
The coastal management of the Levante, like that of other places in the Balearic Islands, has a long history of conflicts and of permitted but illegal exploitation. The Superior Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands (TSJIB) ruled 21 years ago that the two companies exclusively exploited the Cala Millor jetty, where the bulk of tourists embark and disembark, and that its use should be guaranteed in conditions of equality.
According to the TSJIB, the Son Servera City Council had consented to this process, when it should have ensured that an installation within the public domain was not for private use. Despite this, conflicts persisted, with sanctions, litigation, and continuous disagreements between operators.
A new judicial resolution in 2014 once again highlighted the problem: the interpretation of the agreements had de facto allowed a privatization of the use of the jetty, and had left the decision on who could operate there in the hands of the sector itself. This situation generated economic damages, compensation, and more confrontations. The story repeated itself, and there was always a company that felt marginalized by the two major operators and resorted to the courts.
The current project
Bennàssar Naviliers was now awaiting the resolution of the latest project to continue operating sea excursions between 2026 and 2029 in various points of the Llevant, with Cala Millor as the main enclave. The document foresees maintaining the activity with tourist boats and reinforcing ticket sales on land with kiosks and information points, a key piece of the business. The project outlines a relevant economic activity, with annual income that, according to the company, exceeds 800,000 euros, and argues that there is enough space to accommodate operators and that there is no saturation or conflict.
However, a conflict over the operation of sea excursions in Cala Millor is dragging on, which has been going on for a long time and has its roots in the very creation of the jetty. This infrastructure, built with private funding but under public concession from the Son Servera City Council, was to be shared among companies. Nevertheless, since the late nineties, constant disputes have occurred over its control and access to the activity.