Vigo puts up its Christmas lights in the middle of summer

Vigo puts up its Christmas lights in the middle of summer: tourism strategy or waste?

August is not even over and Vigo has already started hanging its famous Christmas lights. Mayor Abel Caballero's initiative sparks criticism: it is dismissed as excess, an empty gesture or mere posturing. But the numbers invite us to look beyond the noise.

The cost of lighting and the municipal debt

Vigo boasts of having zero debt and of having become a benchmark for Christmas tourism. The spending on lighting is defended as an investment that attracts visitors and boosts local commerce. While other cities are cutting back on street lighting hours because of the energy crisis, Caballero is switching the lights on earlier. The paradox does not go unnoticed: amid a climate emergency, the streets are lit up while it is still daylight.

How much does it really cost?

There are no official figures in the debate, but there are rumours that certain contracts benefit friendly companies. The economic argument rests on the return: full hotels, restaurants at capacity and a city brand that has overtaken A Coruña in appeal. Critics, however, point out that the money could go to social services or more urgent infrastructure.

The political controversy and the timing

The timing —summer— fuels accusations of electioneering. With municipal elections not so far away, the early switch-on is seen as a populist gesture. But Caballero himself has spent years consolidating this model: Vigo is now Spain's Christmas capital. Like it or not, the tourism revenue figures vindicate his strategy, although the debate over its sustainability remains open.