The Mexican Association of the Tourism Industry of Yucatan (Asociación Mexicana de la Industria Turística: AMIT) considered that new tourism products and services need to be created and developed in the state, in order to meet the demands of national and foreign tourists that are seking a different travel experience. That is why entrepreneurs are looking at Rural Tourism, the new tourism industry trend in the Peninsula.
The president of AMIT Yucatan, Rosa Isela García Pantoja, explained that the state has cultural riches, customs and traditions that make it an intersting destination, although she indicated that it is also necessary to offer new “alternative travel” products and services.
Interviewed when announcing the second edition of the Jaguar of Tourism 2019, she remarked that the businessmen of the branch should focus on the rural area that, besides being an attraction, can also trigger an economic benefit for the communities.
“When we mention “Rural Tourism” we’re talking about caves, villages, small towns, churches, archaeological sites and cenotes that are not as popular and have not been properly exploited, but can become important tourist attractions,” García Pantoja said.
She explained that both the state government and the private sector must work in coordination to create products that could meet the demand of a certain type of traveler.
Maya Village (Photo: Cancun Adventure Tours)
The president of AMIT stressed that Yucatan can captivate a receptive tourism that seeks to visit archaeological sites, colonial-style architecture, gastronomic and the cultural centers that are not massively visited by most tourists, and added that important new projects, such as the Maya Train, will help to detonate this type of tourism in the state, although she clarified that it will take about five years to start noticing the results of this work.
AMIT Yucatán has 38 members from different branches, among which are transport companies, hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and tour operators.
The Jaguar of Tourism 2019 will reward Emilio Chan Sanguino, in traditional Mayan herbal medicine; Anselma Chalé Euán, in sustainability, preservation and conservation of the melipona bee; Roque Humberto Gamboa León, for his 50 years as a certified tourist guide; and the Metropolitan Technological University (UTM).
TYT Newsroom with information from SIPSE
