“Magic Towns” program has worked effectively for Valladolid

“The disappearance of the National Magical Towns Program budget will not imply that the communities with that designation will also cease to exist, for now the local committees and the National Association of “Pueblos Mágicos” are waiting for the federal government to define how the resources for the infrastructure and tourist development of each Pueblos Mágico will be assigned, ” said Valladolid’s municipal president Manuel Navarrete Correa.

The federal government decided to withdraw the program budget, which allegedly caused uncertainty in the communities with that appointment.

Navarrete Correa recalled that in 2012, during the administration of Jesus Vidal Peniche, the appointment was granted to the city of Valladolid, and since then there has been an important increase in the tourist flow.

Similarly, he said that there are two important events to promote the tourist sites, the Festival of Magical Towns and the Tianguis Turistico, which take place annually in different parts of the country.

The mayor said that these actions have had a positive response because the increase in tourism has been gradual, although he could not calculate the percentage of growth, he mentioned that in 2012 there were only 30 lodging centers, and today there are 100 hotels, motels, hostels, B&B and boutique hotels, including medium, small (not to mention a good number of Aribnbs). There was an average of 650 rooms, now they exceed 1,000, and some hotels are under construction.

Navarrete Correa added that most importantly, the investments made have been local and several businessmen are betting on the boutique hotel concept, which is the most demanded. All these actions are causing an economic spill in the city and therefore jobs are being generated. That’s why the mayor thinks that the designation of Magic Town is working for Valladolid.

All the “Pueblos Mágicos” are waiting for the Tourism Secretariat of the federal government to determine the fate of this program. Meanwhile, the Yucatan state government has a plan to promote the state worldwide, so the promotion project will continue on that side.

Manuel Navarrete Correa concluded that the 3% tax hotels pay per room is used for tourist promotion programs, but that money goes to the State and the state executive is responsible for the proper use of those resources.

TYT Newsroom with information from yucatan.com.mx