Variety visited a beach front area in Garapan yesterday after a concessionaire complained about the structures of two new concessionaires near existing water ride booths.
The new structures, which will serve as booths for water sports and rides, were set up only this week, Variety learned.
The new concessionaires were located near the Hyatt’s beach front area leased from the government.
A concessionaire who operates at the beach front at Fiesta Resort and Spa said the new concessionaires will greatly affect their business.
“Our business is very slow. Most of our customers are repeaters,” the operator, who refused to be identified, said.
Another concessionaire said the suspension of applications was good for the old operators.
“When the economy is bad and there are a few tourists, they should not add concessionaires to compete with those who are already facing hardship in their business,” he told Variety.
DPL Secretary Oscar M. Babauta was in a meeting and had yet to return this reporter’s call as of press time last night.
Last month Babauta said DPL already suspended all new applications for beach front concessions.
The hotels, he said, were not happy with some concessionaires who bother their guests and other tourists.
DPL, he added, will reduce the current 19 permitted beach front concessions through an “attrition” scheme.
The permits of concessionaires who choose not to renew will not be transferred to new applicants.
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