Salou. Costa Dorada. 31 July 2026.
Salou reiterates the need for specific funding for tourist municipalities during the visit of the Government Delegate
Salou City Council has once again highlighted the need for Catalonia to promote a specific funding model for tourist municipalities. This was one of the main demands that Mayor Pere Granados conveyed this Thursday, 30 July 2026, to the Government Delegate of the Generalitat of Catalonia in Tarragona, Lucía López Cerdán, during her institutional visit to the municipality.
Granados argued that the current funding system does not reflect the reality of destinations such as Salou, which, despite having a stable population of around 33,000 residents, must scale its public services to serve nearly three million visitors every year.
The mayor stressed that the costs resulting from this high tourist influx cannot fall solely on residents, second-home owners and the local economic fabric, and called for a "fairer and more equitable" system that recognises the unique nature of tourist municipalities.
For her part, the Government Delegate stated that this debate is still at an early stage and that, for the time being, the Generalitat has not adopted a definitive position on this proposal, although it has expressed its willingness to continue examining the matter.
In addition to the funding debate, the working meeting between the municipal government team and the representative of the Generalitat addressed several ongoing projects and pending requests from the municipality:
Water infrastructure and urban planning: The mayor emphasised the urgency of resuming and implementing the stormwater drainage and collector project for Barcelona Street (stemming from a 2013 agreement), as well as ensuring that the Generalitat fulfils its pending urban planning commitments in various sectors.
Road network and transport: Discussions covered the construction of two new roundabouts on the C-31B highway, the rollout of TramCamp, and the urban transformation of the Civic Axis.
Security and the fight against street vending ('top manta'): An agreement was reached to work towards convening a joint working group involving the municipalities of Salou and Cambrils, the Generalitat, ANDEMA, and traders' associations to coordinate a comprehensive response to illegal street vending.
Educational projects and housing: During the visit, participants reviewed the progress of the new Institute-School in Cap de Salou, the expansion of the Cavallet de Mar nursery school, and the plot of land transferred to the Generalitat for the construction of 40 social housing units.
Economic development and CRT: Discussions also covered matters related to the Recreational and Tourist Consortium (CRT) and the future of the Hard Rock project, which the mayor described as strategic for the destination.
For his part, Mayor Pere Granados gave a very positive assessment of the institutional visit and highlighted the importance of maintaining cooperation with the Generalitat to continue advancing strategic projects and priority initiatives for Salou.
