Ronda drafts tourism bylaw. Groups capped at 30, bus arrivals to be regulated

Ronda town hall is drafting a new bylaw to manage the flow of visitors through its busiest historic streets, with a proposed cap of 30 people per organised group and rules on tourist buses. Diario Sur reported that the aim is to stop the most crowded spots from obstructing residents going about their daily routine. The measures affect residents of the old town, visitors and professionals who work around tourism.

Key facts

• Group size: the proposal would limit organised tourist groups to a maximum of 30 people.
• Buses: the town hall is studying spreading tourist bus arrivals across time slots.
• Guides: stops for guided explanations could be banned where they block pedestrians, and loudspeakers and other sound amplification curbed.
• Name: the Ordenanza Municipal para la Convivencia y Regulación Sostenible de los Flujos Turísticos de Ronda.
• Next step: the governing team plans to take the bylaw to the Pleno (full council meeting) in December, according to Diario Sur.

Where the rules would bite

According to Diario Sur, the initiative will focus on one of the most popular routes for visitors. It runs from Plaza de la Merced and the Alameda to Calle Virgen de la Paz, the Puente Nuevo and Calle Armiñán.

The route brings together some of the town's main monuments. The town hall wants to reconcile tourism with everyday use of public space, without giving up the economic importance of the sector for the municipality, the paper said.

Still to be defined

Diario Sur stressed that these are for now possible restrictions, to be fleshed out as the text is drafted before approval. On buses, the limits that might apply and the mechanisms for checking compliance have not yet been set.

The town hall has opened a public consultation to gather proposals from residents, associations and other interested groups. The aim is to include different viewpoints before the text is finalised.

Tourism councillor Ángel Martínez has also met the Asociación de Guías Turísticos de Ronda (the local tourist guides' association) to discuss possible changes and hear its views. Some of the planned restrictions would directly affect how guided visits are organised and where explanations are currently given.

The mayor's case

Mayor Mari Paz Fernández defended the need to act as tourism grows and to find a balance that keeps Ronda attractive without harming residents' daily lives. Diario Sur quoted her as saying: «En definitiva, se trata de hacer compatibles la vida de Ronda y las visitas de quienes quieren conocer y disfrutar de nuestra ciudad» (in short, it is about making life in Ronda compatible with visits from people who want to get to know and enjoy the city). She argues visitor numbers keep rising every year.

What it means

For residents and businesses in Ronda, and for anyone planning to visit with a tour group, the December council vote is the date to watch. Until then, the group cap, bus regulation and limits on guides' stops remain proposals. Those wishing to contribute can do so through the town hall's public consultation.