The grant scheme for strengthening commercial activity in tourist areas, run by the Secretariat of State for Trade, forms part of Component 14 of the Recovery Plan, “Tourism Sector Modernisation and Competitiveness Plan”, under Investment 4.a, “Special measures in the field of competitiveness”.

Investments under this scheme aim to strengthen commercial activity in areas with high tourist footfall by funding projects that promote competitiveness, innovation and the modernisation of the local retail offering, linked to visitor inflows in these commercial areas.

The objective is for local authorities to undertake investments aimed at improving retail areas in tourist zones through the use of new technologies; the application of technological solutions to improve energy efficiency; environmentally efficient processes, including recycling and waste reuse; staff training; an integrated digital signature adapted to foreign visitors; and the adaptation of public spaces to improve accessibility and mobility.

The following local authorities may be eligible for these grants:

• Municipalities with a population of more than 20,000 inhabitants.
• Provinces and islands, through provincial and chartered councils, island councils and cabildos, where the project is intended for populations of between 5,000 and 20,000 inhabitants.
• In single-province Autonomous Communities (which do not have provincial councils or equivalent bodies), municipalities with more than 5,000 inhabitants may submit projects directly.
• Municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants that exceed this figure when accounting for their floating population.

Eligible expenditure

• Expenditure related to public infrastructure: costs aimed at the functional adaptation, improvement and modernisation of public thoroughfares, enhancing the integration of tourism and commercial uses.
• Expenditure related to digitalisation: actions that have an impact on the digital transformation of the retail sector.
• Expenditure related to sustainability and the circular economy.​