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Date Published: 27/07/2024

Mallorca launches smart beaches app to book sunbeds and umbrellas

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The technology will also include free WiFi and drones on five beaches in Palma next summer

Mallorca launches smart beaches app to book sunbeds and umbrellas

For the first time ever in the Balearic Islands, Palma City Council is planning to unveil its ‘smart beaches’ app next summer, which means visitors will be able to reserve sunbeds and umbrellas in their chosen spots before ever setting foot on the sand.

This high-tech tool will be rolled out across Palma’s five beaches in 2025 and its main aim is to reduce queues and crowds waiting to pay for beds.

“This application goes beyond reserving a sunbed. It will give the City Council greater control over the number of people going to the beach and in this sense we will have very valuable data,” explained David Díez, general coordinator of Innovation and Digital District of the City Council of Palma.

“Users will be able to make a reservation easily and easily from anywhere through the app or the website. This includes secure payment management. It's all advantages because if you book you can ensure the availability of the service and avoid queues. For our part, we will have real-time information on beach occupancy for the first time,” he continued.

Much like online bookings for a seat on a plane, this tool will include a map of the sunbeds on each beach and will show which ones are free so that the user can choose their optimum spot. It will also provide additional information about that particular beach, such as any entertainment or water sports on offer, and the accessible facilities for people with reduced mobility.

After this season, the contracts for managing the beach services will be up for renewal, and the council is under pressure to finish the app so that its use can be included in the agreement for the new concessions.

In addition to the booking app, the council plans to introduce free Wi-Fi on the beaches, video surveillance "to manage and monitor the occupation" of the beaches and drones to increase security and help in the rescue of bathers.

Barcelona has already introduced this technology but next summer, the beaches of Ciutat Jardí, Cala Estància, Platja de Palma, Can Pere Antoni and Cala Major will be flying the flag for the Balearics.

In other news: Spain's disappearing beaches: A race against time

Image: ILA-boy via Wikimedia Commons

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