Benidorm shock as traders say tourist shops are tarnishing its image

Benidorm wants to be "less like Benidorm, more like Bilbao" in a bid to become more upmarket. Local traders are asking for a new limit on licences for tourist shops, saying there are too many selling souvenirs, food and drinks.

They want a meeting with the local mayor so that a new law can be introduced based on "necessity and proportionality". Bilbao on the Spanish mainland has some of the best shops along its so-called "Golden Mile" which Benidorm wants to replicate. The Independent Association of Merchants of Benidorm says is very concerned about the proliferation of new shops aimed at tourism with the sale of food, drinks and souvenirs.

They have criticised this "stoppable growth" which, they say, is affecting established commerce. Benidorm businesses claim they are now "overwhelmed by the constant opening of tourist shops" who are dedicated to the sale of food products, beverages and gifts of all kinds.

And they say they cannot compete with these small stores that offer their products even at night and until the early hours of the morning.

Typically, these are supermarkets or food stores geared toward tourism, which rent space at high prices and are spread throughout the city, according to AICO.

The results of the sales report published by the association every season also lead to pessimism about the future.

In July, they experienced a drop of between 11 and 30% in sales, figures that worsened in August, with a decline ranging from 31 to 50%.

The association has asked the city council to reorganise business openings under the criteria of "necessity and proportionality," ultimately limiting the incorporation of more retail establishments like those described.

The group says it is clear that these new stores "tarnish the image of the city's small sector" and its general secretary, Juanjo Camarasa, reiterates that "there is a lack of political will to promote local commerce."

AICO has told Mayor Toni Pérez that they want a Local Ordinance on Hospitality Establishments that the city of Bilbao unanimously approved in 2015.

This ordinance was sent to Benidorm City Councilor for Commerce, Javier Jordá, but received no response.

Now they request that a working group be urgently created to establish parameters with the intention of restricting the type or number of licenses to open commercial activities that may harm existing ones.

The aforementioned working group, which would be made up of municipal, hotel and commercial representatives, would make the decision to issue opening permits if the applicant's economic activity was of general interest to the community.