Informal trade has skyrocketed in recent years in Puerto Vallarta. Businessmen established in the so-called Romantic Zone complain about the increase in street and semi-permanent vendors. A clear example are the stalls installed on Basilio Badillo Street, behind the Lázaro Cárdenas elementary school, as well as the number of people selling all kinds of products on the popular Los Muertos beach, where up to 60 vendors have been recorded approaching those sitting on the sand in just one hour.
Businessman Daniel Zambrano Corona, owner of a restaurant on Olas Altas Street, has witnessed this phenomenon, as well as the increase in trash on public roads. He said that it is the responsibility of both the government and the citizens to join forces to provide a better image to visitors:
“It is about coordinating and regulating, because, at the end of the day, we exist for tourism, for those who come to visit us. So, if we cannot give them an environment of tranquility, security and relaxation, they will prefer other destinations. Regulating how many vendors there are and also the restaurants with the issue of garbage is key. All of this is affecting our destination, giving it a bad image. It is everyone’s business. We need to do our part to have a nice, safe, well-lit and clean port. One of the problems is the number of street vendors and, above all, the presence of many minors who should not be on the street after 10:00 at night. Sometimes they are there until 1:00 in the morning. It is an issue that must be addressed,” he explained.
He recalled that they have conducted studies on street vendors on Los Muertos beach, the most popular beach resort south of downtown Puerto Vallarta, where vendors parade around offering everything: skewers, bracelets, sarongs, hats, braids, massages, fish, crafts, fresh water, coconuts, suntan lotions, cigarettes, chewing gum, clothing, paintings, hammocks, chairs, life jackets, among other products and services.
“A study was conducted several years ago in which the number of times a tourist was approached by vendors on Los Muertos beach was measured. The analysis lasted one hour and 60 vendors were recorded offering products, practically one per minute,” he said.
Another concern is the increase in stalls on Basilio Badillo and Venustiano Carranza streets in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood, where they sell mainly clothing and crafts, and even, recently, tacos. In addition to taking over the sidewalks, some merchants place buckets or cones on the street to prevent vehicles from wetting their merchandise when they pass through the puddles that form.
“It is a question of image and circulation. The streets are full of stalls that are growing ever larger. At the end of the day, it is a business and many people make a living from it, but we should be better organized and regulated to offer a cleaner image of the streets,” warned Zambrano Corona.
He acknowledged that, with the new municipal government headed by Luis Munguía, they have found openness, and are confident that a solution to the problem will be found. He indicated that they have held several meetings with the city manager, Juan Pablo Martínez.