Uncertain and difficult situation for Durango’s Tourism sector

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Durango journalist VÍCTOR HUGO CASTAÑEDA SOTO came up with an editorial exposing the difficult situation that the Tourism industry in the state of Durango is facing with the new government actions.

One of the economic activities that had the greatest growth and performance for Mexico is, undoubtedly, Tourism, as it grew to important levels and our country came to occupy the 6th. place worldwide, with 39 million foreign tourists. A contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of 8.8% and generating an average of 10 million direct and indirect jobs.

As for the tourist activity of Durango, from the beginning, it will no longer receive the additional financial participation it received in 2017, for an amount of 24 million and that of 2018, of 35 million pesos, through the so-called “Fiscal Coordination Agreements” or “PRODERMAGICO”.

Obviously, the Magic Towns of Nombre de Dios and Mapimí remain adrift, or subject, exclusively to the budget allocation of the Government of the State of Durango, since AMLO’s government decided to cancel the “Pueblos Mágicos” program. It´s been said that the State Congress would allocate a budget for 2019, for an amount of 30 million pesos, in favor of the Magic Town of Nombre de Dios, Dgo. (Nothing is being said about Mapimi though).

In 2018, the Secretary of Tourism of the Government of the State of Durango and the Federal Government, shared resources for an amount of 35 million pesos, of which 15 million were used for the recovery of the historic center of Nombre de Dios, in its second stage. Another eleven million pesos, for the construction of the “Dolores del Rio” Cultural Corridor, located on Hidalgo Street, in its stretch that goes from Calle 5 a Avenida 20 de Noviembre. This name was chosen in honor of Doña Dolores Asúnsulo and López Negrete, (aka Dolores Del Rio); and the rest would be used in one of the most consolidated Tourism Products of our State, the “Paseo del Viejo Oeste” Theme Park, which is already suffering serious deterioration.

It should be noted that, as a result of the disappearance of the Tourism Promotion Council of Mexico, Durango as a tourist destination will no longer have financial resources for promotion, which is essential to publicize the main tourist attractions of our State and increase the percentage of Hotel occupation, repeated complaint of the President of the Hoteliers.

The Mazatlan Post Newsroom with information from El Siglo de Durango