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Electric carriages proposed as animal welfare debate returns to Jerez
PACMA urges a rethink of horse-drawn tourism, but Jerez Ayuntamiento says coexistence is the way forward
The long-running debate over horse-drawn carriages in Andalusian cities has resurfaced in Jerez de la Frontera, after the animal rights political party PACMA (Partido Animalista Con el Medio Ambiente) formally proposed the introduction of electric carriages as an alternative to animal traction.The proposal was raised during a recent institutional meeting between Marcelino Laínez, provincial coordinator of PACMA in Cádiz, and Jerez tourism councillor Antonio Real Granado, aimed at exploring whether new, more modern forms of tourist transport could be developed in the city. According to PACMA, the discussion focused on electric carriages designed to replicate the traditional aesthetic, but without the use of animals.
Laínez argued that tourism models are evolving and that cities need to adapt. He told the Ayuntamiento that electric horse-drawn-style carriages are already approved in Spain and, in his view, “allow tourist activity to be combined with an image of a city that respects animals”. PACMA believes this approach would align Jerez with growing expectations around animal welfare, while still preserving a familiar visitor experience.
However, the Jerez Ayuntamiento made it clear that it is not currently planning to phase out horse-drawn carriages. Instead, the council expressed its support for maintaining the existing model alongside other tourist transport options, such as tourist trains and buses. At present, Jerez has 14 licensed horse-drawn carriages operating in the city.
That said, the council did acknowledge that electric carriages are legally viable. Officials confirmed that these vehicles are approved, can be registered and insured, and could be authorised in the future. For now, though, no pilot projects or financial incentives are being considered to help carriage operators transition away from animal traction.
The discussion in Jerez follows similar moves elsewhere in Andalucía. In recent months, cities such as Málaga and Marbella have tightened regulations around horse-drawn carriages, introducing stricter animal welfare controls and, in some cases, limiting or reshaping how these services operate. Those changes have fuelled wider debate about how traditional tourist attractions can evolve in line with modern welfare standards, something PACMA says Jerez should now also consider.
PACMA insists that animal welfare is not just a moral issue, but a legal responsibility for public administrations. The party argues that the existence of viable alternatives should, at the very least, prompt a detailed review of the current system. The Ayuntamiento’s position, however, is that different models of tourist transport can coexist, rather than replacing one another outright.
As a next step, Laínez has agreed to send the council technical documentation and examples from other municipalities where electric carriages or similar systems have already been introduced. Whether that leads to a broader rethink in Jerez remains to be seen, but the conversation around tradition, tourism and animal welfare is clearly far from over.
You might also be interested in: Feria de Jerez horse fair in Cadiz, Spain
Image: LaJuana_pic/Pixabay
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