Investigations into Hotel Formentor: Who May Use Playa de Formentor Beach?

In Pollença, the town hall and the Coastline Authority are examining whether the hotel at Playa de Formentor has unlawfully designated beach areas as 'private'.

Town Hall and Coastline Authority review beach use at Formentor

Early Tuesday morning, as the first boats were still anchored off Cap Formentor and the wind blew faintly from the sea, staff from the town hall of Pollença found indications that areas at Playa de Formentor could have been reserved exclusively for guests. The discussion centers on umbrellas, sun loungers, and even towels that are meant to mark off sections at the water.

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What exactly is being complained about

The allegations focus on a well-known hotel allegedly labeling a zone as private and exclusive on its website. At the same time, employees or guests apparently blocked spots directly at the sea with towels. The problem: the coastal strip is public property. Under Spanish coastal law, no one may permanently privatize areas, according to initial statements from the town hall.

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The Coastline Authority (Dirección de Costas) has now opened investigations. It is less about the next sun lounger than about the principle question: May a hotel de facto control beach access soon simply because it advertises it? First consequence: The corresponding passage on the hotel website was removed, and the visible towels were no longer there last.

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How the authorities proceed

The investigation is formal. Officials review documents, aerial photographs, and statements from witnesses — including a lifeguard who was on duty over the weekend and reported that guest areas appeared marked. If a violation is confirmed, warnings, fines, and orders to remove all private markings could be imposed. In the worst case, the Coastline Authority could also revoke permanent use rights.

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On site, such cases regularly generate controversy: Locals and visitors recall days when space was tight, if towels had already occupied areas before sunrise. Others see hotels bound to communicate the offer clearly without infringing on the boundaries of public space.

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I was briefly at the town hall in the afternoon: The mood was factual, almost routine. Officials said they wanted to handle the matter transparently. Whether this is an isolated case or a hint of a larger business model with private beach accesses will become clear only after the investigations are completed.

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Update: As soon as details on possible sanctions or internal hotel responses are available, we will report further.