Shopkeepers in Roses, Girona, say a recent fall in illegal street vendors may only be temporary, with a possible return from 1 July. Ricardo Moraes, president of the Santa Margarida Traders' Association, said the number of vendors on the promenade has dropped sharply this spring.
Moraes said the decline is linked to stronger police pressure. He said police have intervened each time a vendor has set up this year, which has stopped the regular street selling seen from April in previous years.
That said, traders fear the situation could change quickly when the high tourist season begins. They expect current enforcement may not be enough once visitor numbers rise, which could bring a sharp increase in unauthorised sales.
Local businesses have long argued that street vendors trade without licences, taxes or the same overheads as formal shops, which they say creates unfair competition. The municipality of Roses has tried different measures before, but traders say a lasting solution has not yet been found.
The issue will be watched closely through the summer, as traders hope police action continues and keeps vendor numbers down during the busiest months. For more local coverage, see our news tag.
