The tender initiated by Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council to allocate fairground stalls and attractions at various times of the year has not generated interest among sector operators. No company submitted a bid for the 2026-2029 period, and the municipal government now expects to issue new terms and conditions.
The issue came to the forefront during this morning's political debate. PP councillor Marta Alaña criticized the tender's design, arguing that the City Council created a significant comparative disadvantage within the sector, particularly after the treatment given to the Ferris wheel and carousel installed during Christmas in the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca. In her view, these attractions did not follow the same scheme as other installations that economically exploit public space, and this disparity ultimately influenced the new tender. The popular councillor also questioned the bonus system, the increase in deposits, and the calculation of fees, considering these to be key points that deterred the sector.
“"The City Council has made a mistake and has requested a review of the criteria applied to the calculation of fees as well."
The Councillor for Public Space, Beatriz Artolazabal, acknowledged that the terms could be improved and announced that the City Council is already working on a new tender. She explained that the Consistory met with AFEVI, the sector's association, to understand firsthand why no offers were submitted. From this meeting, the municipal government identified three main reasons: a lack of profitability in some locations, especially in San Prudencio; confusion regarding access to bonuses; and the difficulties posed by the required deposits.
Artolazabal detailed that the City Council aims to introduce changes to clarify these doubts. These include explicitly incorporating the possibility of requesting bonuses, allowing deposits to be replaced by civil liability policies, and reviewing some locations to make them more attractive. One option being considered by the City Council is to use the Plaza de los Fueros during the Christmas campaign, once the Ardo Araba marquees are dismantled. The goal is to offer a more central and competitive space for attractions, after fairground operators reported that the presence of the Ferris wheel and carousel in Virgen Blanca drew crowds away from other areas like the Plaza de la Constitución.
The municipal government insists that Vitoria-Gasteiz will not be without fairground rides in the coming years. Their intention is to revise the terms shortly and ensure the new tender is attractive to the sector.
