Andorran Tobacco Traders Slam Government's Ineffective Road Closure Aid

Raül Calvo, spokesperson for the Andorran Tobacco Traders Union (UCAT), has criticised the government's measures to address the RN-20 road closure, warning they are failing to deliver expected benefits in Pas de la Casa.

While the executive highlights a modest uptick in vehicle entries, tobacco retailers report severe financial strain, with significant drops in turnover hitting their cash registers. The crisis, stemming from ongoing logistical disruptions on the key border route, has sparked widespread frustration among local businesses, who question the effectiveness of current efforts to revive the area's economy.

The most criticised initiative is a €30 fuel voucher scheme. Traders in Pas de la Casa describe it as offering "zero return" for village shops, as French visitors collect the aid but then head elsewhere without spending locally. Government spokesperson and minister Guillem Casal confirmed that 1,215 vouchers have been distributed at a cost of €35,000, yet the sector argues this fails to channel benefits back into local retail and services.

UCAT is pushing for more concrete actions and plans to submit a package of proposals to the government next week. Key ideas include a "show festival" with commercial events from May through early summer, aimed at drawing crowds through festive activities. The group seeks to pair this with ongoing communication campaigns in Occitania, ensuring tourist traffic boosts border businesses directly.