Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — An ongoing operation to improve Fifth Avenue has resulted in the removal of more than 60 kiosk vendors. However, some have begun to return due to a legal loophole.
Antón Bojórquez, the Secretary of Economic Development (Desarrollo Económico y Atracción de Inversiones), says dozens of illegal and / or irregular vendor kiosks were trucked off the pedestrian-only avenue in past weeks.
The kiosks were removed to combat informal trade in the tourist area as well as eliminate tourist harassment. Bojórquez acknowledged that unfortunately, several of the removed vendors have already reestablished themselves on Fifth Avenue due to a loophole in the current law.
He says once an irregular vendor pays their fine, by law, the city has to return their kiosk items. More times than not, he says, they just set up again.
“By law we have to hand over the things once they pay their fine. We definitely need to change that part of the law to make this more effective because otherwise they keep coming back,” he said.
The Secretary also highlighted plans to hold talks with Fifth Avenue business leaders to create agreements that allow the voluntary withdrawal of informal commerce.
The strategy, he says, is to balance the fight against street vendors with the promotion of formal commerce, protecting the image of Fifth Avenue as a symbol of Playa del Carmen and a key point for national and international tourism.
In late October, city inspectors began removing the illegal vendors from along Fifth Avenue. The sweep continued into the month of November that to date, has resulted in the removal of more than 60 kiosks.
