Pas de la Casa Traders Welcome RN-20 Reopening on March 9, Demand Aid and Schedule Clarity

**Pas de la Casa Traders Hail RN-20 Reopening on March 9 but Demand Clear Works Schedule and Enhanced Aid**

Andorra's head of government, Xavier Espot, confirmed last Friday that the RN-20 road, closed since January 31 by a landslide between L'Hospitalet and Mérens, will reopen on March 9—well ahead of the initial three-month projection. The development, resulting from Andorran-French collaboration, eases pressures on Pas de la Casa businesses ahead of remaining French Carnival weeks, Easter, and March 14 Constitution Day, a commercially active Saturday. Stabilisation works, however, are set to last 12 to 18 months with periodic closures.

Josep Maria Mas, president of the Pas de la Casa Chamber of Commerce and Economic and Social Council, called the timeline "a bit of air" that brings moral relief. "We're much calmer now with a firm date," he said, noting it safeguards key tourism periods despite irrecoverable early Carnival losses. Traders met Tuesday to review impacts, shelving protests in favour of calls for a detailed calendar of future disruptions—ideally confined to low season with early warnings and joint planning to avoid peaks like July and August. They seek clarity on whether cuts will be continuous or intermittent, citing ongoing weekend access issues via detours that have deterred drivers.

The sector presses for an immediate Andorra Turisme campaign in French media, particularly Toulouse outlets, to restore day-tripper confidence and highlight the post-reopening weekend. Mas said the request was renewed at a recent extraordinary Economic and Social Council meeting, with preparations advanced but no firm details yet. Andorra Turisme has begun announcements, though traders want stronger promotion.

Aid has faced backlash. The €30 fuel vouchers proved "almost ineffective," mainly aiding petrol stations as visitors refuelled without further spending. Gerard Pifarré, the traders' council representative, urged tying them to €50-60 receipts excluding tobacco. Proposals include 15-20% rent reductions with fiscal relief for landlords—praised where voluntary but needing regulation—and extended soft government loans covering first-quarter rents, staff, and suppliers. ERTO furloughs are now ruled out given the near-term reopening. CEA president Gerard Cadena wants loss documentation for any post-March 9 extensions, especially for tobacco retailers. Existing measures like CASS contributions and electricity bill relief offer some support, but traders seek coverage through month-end or the quarter.

Retail, dining, and lower-village shops suffered most, with sharp day-visitor drops exacerbated by post-Carnival slowdowns and detours. Events like the Hibernation festival saw 15% ticket declines, organiser Hugo Sauterel said, with lost volumes unrecoverable despite official efforts. French farmer protests and weather compounded issues.

Hotels weathered the closure better. Unió Hotelera d’Andorra president Albert Mora reported February occupancy near 90%, with no cancellation surge. "The impact was less severe than feared, and client response more stable than expected," he said, emphasising day-trade sectors as the hardest hit. The reopening should bolster trust moving forward.

Traders call for a long-term reactivation plan involving tourism and commerce ministries plus Encamp commune to diversify beyond tobacco and address economic fragility revealed by the blockade. The Economic and Social Council meets mid-month to discuss with executives and communes.