Credibility Needed: How Palma Should Really Tackle Illegal Street Vending

Who protects the rules when street vending becomes the norm?

You can hear the seagulls, the distant rumble of buses on the Paseo Marítimo and the rhythmic rustle of plastic bags – and somewhere between coffee cups and tourist maps lies the blanket with sunglasses. Scenes like this have become part of island life: improvised stalls at the cathedral, blankets on the Plaza Mayor, vendors offering bags and watches. For many tourists it's a quick purchase. For shop owners in Calle Sant Miquel or the bakery on the corner, it's a matter of survival anxiety.

The key question: Do people still believe in the same rules for everyone?

When rents are paid on time, taxes declared and employees hired, you expect the city to protect the framework. But the picture is ambivalent: morning controls that clear away blankets give the appearance of action. In the evenings, however, when groups get loud at the Playa de Palma or pickpocketing occurs in the old town, presence is often lacking. A resident from La Lonja dryly remarked: “It looks like they only act where the camera is watching.” This perception may damage the credibility of authorities even more than the illegal trade itself.

More than isolated actions: look at the whole system

The debate must not end with collected blankets. Behind the street sellers there are often chains: middlemen, boat transfers, even storage in backyards. The street offer is part of a business model that combines morning raids with organized logistics. Those who react only sporadically fight symptoms, not causes. That in turn fuels the feeling of injustice — among shop owners as well as law-abiding citizens.

What has so far received little attention

Public discussion often focuses on beach vendors and isolated offenders, less on the money flows and the structures behind them. Also neglected is the perspective of those who sell on the street: many are in precarious situations with little prospect of regular work. And then there is the role of tourists: a cheap souvenir bought in two minutes changes demand and legitimizes the supply.

Concrete steps for more credibility

An effective concept must connect several levels. These are my proposals, close to the reality of Mallorca:

1. Consistent, visible controls: Regular checks at times of high demand (evenings, weekend markets) and across the whole city — not just “tidied up” where there is good press. Joint operational planning between municipalities with clear targets could help.

2. Focus on the organizers: Investigate supply chains, impose tough sanctions on masterminds and administrators of storage sites. Simple seizures alone are not enough; investigations against the networks are needed.

3. Social alternatives: Mobile licensed stalls, time-limited permits, microloans and training offers for vendors. If someone gains a legal perspective, the incentive for illegal trade decreases.

4. Cooperation instead of isolation: Bring tourism industry, shop owners and social services to the same table. Pilot projects in hotspots (e.g. Paseo Marítimo, old town) could develop models for formalizing market structures.

5. Communication and transparency: Explain why measures are taken, what goals are being pursued and why the same rules apply to everyone. That builds trust and undermines the populist image of “striking selectively”.

A pragmatic outlook

Of course all this costs personnel and money. But the alternative — a patchwork of controls that repeatedly targets certain groups — undermines trust in the city administration. Credibility is not a luxury: it is central for guests who expect quality, for shopkeepers who need to plan, and for those who need real prospects.

Perhaps Palma first needs an open pilot year: coordinated operations, social support, transparent sanctions and at the same time temporary legal vending areas. If that succeeds, you might hear less of the rustle of illegal blankets in the squares and more perhaps the clink of glasses from the bars — and the certainty that rules apply not just to the small seller, but to everyone.