Alfonso Rivero Flores, tourism business leader from Valladolid, and Gilmer Estrada Herrera, from the Zamná restaurant and Rinconada hotel in the Convento de Izamal, attended the Christmas gathering offered in recent days by the Tourism Business Council (Cetur) at Mérida’s El Conquistador hotel and there they presented his vision of those Magical Towns.
“We look for the best conditions to host all this tourism that comes to us. We are fortunate to be close to two important Mayan archaeological zones, such as Chichén Itzá and Ek Balam,” said Rivero Flores.
“We are surrounded by cenotes, we have succulent cuisine and a Mayan ethnic group that can enjoy international tourism.”
He then explained that Valladolid receives two types of tourism: the international one that comes to learn about the Mayan culture and the pre-Hispanic archaeological zones, and the national and regional tourism that comes to savor the gastronomy, and live the adventure and experience of the cenotes.
“As Valladolid has an impressive culture and the city itself is majestic, it is a strong attraction that has made tourism grow,” he indicated.
He was asked about the Xibalbá theme park, which is being built by the Xcaret Group, but he said that he does not know the date of its opening to the public or the reasons for the suspension of the work.
“It is a tourism project desired by the world and by the people of Valladolid. We know it has some problems, I don’t know why it hasn’t opened,” said Rivero Flores.
“I think that when it works it will detonate the economy and tourist mobility of this Magical Town a little more. “It will join the entire population around us, it will generate economic benefits in the nearby communities.”
“We hope that Xibalbá will be inaugurated in 2024 or until the current federal government (which closed it) leaves and when the next government comes it will open it,” he said.
“It is in the hands of the federal government. We know that there is a pending issue, but we do want this problem to be unblocked because in the end this park adds to the wealth of the municipality,” he added.
Chichén Itzá International Airport, another tourism opportunity
He was also asked about the Chichén Itzá international airport. He said it has no use. In reality, Quintana Roo is the one who naturally benefits, promotes and brings tourism to Valladolid.
Every day, he explained, Valladolid receives just over 4,000 tourists of the 7,000 who go to the archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá. This daily influx generates a lot of economic benefits.
“This tourism arrives by land from Quintana Roo and after its first trip they return. “They return to Valladolid and stay to sleep for one or two nights.”
Likewise, the businessman from Valladolid recalled that five years ago the hotel overnight stay was one night, but today it is 2.5 nights. It is an important percentage for the tourism sector that impacts the economy.
As specified, the 2.5-night overnight stay is only in hotels, which offer just over 2,000 rooms, but there are overnight stays in Airbnb spaces and in accommodations offered by rural communities, where cenotes and other attractions are open to the public.
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