Sunbed Rental Business Owners Protest Marbella's New Beach Plan

Marbella's 2022-25 beach plan, aimed at reducing space allocated to beach businesses to enhance public enjoyment, has ignited a protest by local sunbed rental business owners. Demonstrators gathered outside the town hall, claiming the new regulations unfairly target their livelihoods while favoring large hotel chains and beach clubs, which are allowed to expand their areas.

"Every year they keep taking space away from us. We used to have 50 hammocks; now we have 33," explained Antonio, one of the protesters. Federico, another business owner, voiced his frustration: "Nothing has been communicated to us. We have been serving this town for forty, fifty years. These local families have been serving tourism for generations," he said.

The town hall, however, maintains that it will continue with its plan to put all municipal pitches on the beach out to public tender, despite the sector's concerns.