Beach Kiosks 2024

Final Decision

Updated information with the list of Beach Kiosks starting operations in the summer season 2024.
Click on the following link: Beach Kiosks in Formentera
www.4mentera.com/en/beach-kiosks-formentera

Formentera, April 29, 2024

On Friday, April 26, the Governing Board of the Insular Council of Formentera, held an extraordinary session to definitively allocate the lots for beach kiosks for the coming years.

This decision, which has generated great anticipation and controversy on the island over the past two years, comes after a lengthy debate, both politically and socially, and puts an end to the uncertainty about the future of these facilities.

It is important to note that the Governing Board made this decision without the presence of the President of the Insular Council, Llorenç Córdoba, who decided to resign from participating in the board to prevent the decision-making process from remaining deadlocked, as positions regarding the allocation of the kiosks were absolutely divergent between him and the rest of the government team members.

As it couldn’t be otherwise, after being drawn out for so long, this final resolution has been met with satisfaction by some sectors, while others have expressed their criticisms.

Winning Companies

The Governing Board formed by the remaining councilors of Sa Unió finally reached an agreement on the allocation of beach kiosks in Formentera starting from the 2024 season, with the following companies selected:

Mar y Playa 2 S.L. for lot 3 of Cala Saona
Apartamentos Castavi S.A. for lot 19 of Es Pujols
Paraíso de los Pinos S.A. for lot 24 of Es Pujols
Delle Vittorie S.L. for lot 35 of Arenals Beach
Monolisto 2016 S.L. for lot 38 of Arenals Beach
Faraway La Mola S.L. for lot 43 of Migjorn
Ojalá Formentera 3 S.L. for lot 50 of Ca Marí

This final resolution has been received with satisfaction by some sectors, while others have expressed their criticisms.
Supporters of the new allocation argue that, as the highest-scoring companies in the competition, they are legally deserving of exploiting the kiosk concessions from now on.

Critics, on the other hand, lament the departure of companies that, in some cases, had been managing beach kiosks in Formentera for many years and fear that the new management may have a negative impact on the style of these legendary businesses.

Farewell to Emblematic Names

Out of the 8 awarded kiosks, only one, Kiosko de Bartolo, will retain the same owner who has operated it since the 1970s, Bartomeu Escandell, bidding farewell to the rest of the former concessionaires.

This news has evoked nostalgia among many residents and visitors of Formentera, who have enjoyed for years the services and atmosphere provided by the individuals responsible for each of these emblematic establishments.

Disappear, at least as we have known them so far, names that have been part of the recent history of the island, such as Pirata Bus, Kiosko 62, Lucky, People, and Kiosko de Cala Saona.

Key Dates and Legal Actions

This week, the resolution of this beach services tender will be uploaded to the Public Sector Procurement Platform. The awarded companies will have to deposit their bonds and sign the contract to obtain exploitation rights. It is estimated that the assembly of the new facilities could take around two months, meaning that the kiosks will not be operational until mid-June.

It is worth noting that some of the former concessionaires have announced their intention to take legal action due to doubts about the legality and transparency of the evaluation process of the different proposals submitted.

Only time will tell how this change in kiosk management will affect the dynamics of Formentera’s beaches. Expectations are diverse, and we will have to wait and see if the new proposals manage to maintain the charm and essence of these spaces so emblematic for the island of Formentera, its visitors, and its residents.