Diversification in the activity is consolidated as the engine of the economy throughout the state of Sinaloa
Mazatlán, Sin.- Tourism in Sinaloa has established itself as one of the great engines of the economy, generator of employment and well-being for the inhabitants, where Mazatlán, thanks to its beach, culture, nature and gastronomy, is the main benefited, since it practically receives visitors throughout the year.
However, it is no longer just tourism from tourist cruises, which last year generated an estimated economic benefit of 32 million dollars; or the charter boat, which during the holiday periods of Easter, Summer and Christmas of 2022 left profits above 12 billion pesos, but now the sports car is added, with which the port of Mazatlán grabs a new air and diversifies the offer for visitors. It is the new jewel that must be taken care of.
The sports tourism segment has been consolidated in the port thanks to the professional soccer and baseball seasons, as well as events such as Motorcycle Week, La Troca, the Triathlon, the Mazatlán Cup, the Ciclotur and a series of children’s soccer and baseball activities that only last year left an economic benefit of at least 2 billion pesos.
Sport fishing and golf
The Marketing Director of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Companies of Mazatlán, José Gámez Valle, remembers that in the 80s the destination received high-level sports tourism, with sport fishing and golf, but that little by little It was going to other places because they did not know how to take care of that segment.
Mazatlán became a fishermen’s paradise, becoming the favorite place for deep-sea fishing, due to the connection between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, and for the capture of marine species such as dorado, marlin, sailfish , among other.
“The companies with the best service in Mazatlán charge at least $600 for a boat for four people and up to $900 for 8 people, which only people with resources pay for. Unfortunately, the large groups that practice sport fishing have already gone to Los Cabos,” he comments.
Later came golf, even Mazatlán was the first beach destination in the country that received groups of golfers; The first was the Campestre municipal field, later El Cid and now Estrella de Mar.
Up to 300 groups of golfers a year were even received by the company ILT Group, located in northern California, with an average cost of $400 a day in lodging, payment for use of the course, transfers and meals.
But unfortunately, the golfers also left for Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo.
Gámez Valle highlights the importance of the Mexican Pacific Baseball League with the Venados de Mazatlán and now professional soccer with Mazatlán FC. In addition to the Marathon, which before the Covid-19 pandemic was the second generator of economic benefits after Carnival, a site that is now occupied by International Motorcycle Week.
For the president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Sinaloa, Miguel Hernández Fonseca, it is necessary to promote new sports disciplines, such as surfing and sailing regattas, in addition to recovering fishing and golf, which generate tourism with a high purchasing power.
“Our Pacific Ocean, the beaches of Mazatlán, are very appropriate for water sports, I believe that the people who are in tourism, commerce and services, through SECTUR and the municipality, must meet to see new products that come to prop up the arrival of sports tourism”, he points out.
The Sinaloa Ministry of Tourism estimates that by 2023 the entity will exceed five million tourists visiting the state, of which 70 percent are concentrated in Mazatlán.
According to statistics, during 2022, only 3.9 million tourists arrived in Mazatlán and more than 4 million throughout the state. And for this year a considerable increase is expected thanks to the opening of the new tourist product that anchors the port, the Mar de Cortés Aquarium.
For this 2023, a successful period is expected in the entity, since an economic benefit of 7 thousand 977 million pesos is expected, this means a growth of 36.1 percent compared to the year 2022, when 5 thousand 862 million pesos were obtained.
The president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce in Sinaloa explains that within the economical spill it is contemplated lodging, consumption in restaurants, entertainment centers, self-service stores, public transportation, recreational activities, department stores, bars, nightclubs, groceries, markets, sales of accessories, souvenirs, and handicrafts.
Most of the beach areas that offer accommodation will be at their full capacity, as well as the four Magical Towns: Rosario, El Fuerte, Cosalá and Mocorito, which will register full houses in their hotels; in the same way as the nine Stately Towns: Choix, Concordia, Copala, Imala, Elota, El Quelite, San Ignacio, Sinaloa de Leyva and Villa de Ahome.
The leader of the FECANACO announced that according to his projections, for Mazatlán an economic benefit of 5 thousand 400 million pesos is expected, which represents an increase of 35 percent compared to 2022, where it obtained 4 billion 374 thousand pesos.
Culiacán will have a collection of 1,335 million pesos; for Los Mochis 801 million are expected; for Guasave 311 million and in Guamúchil it is estimated to capture 128 million pesos.
Based on the National Statistical Directory of Economic Units, Mazatlán has 249 hotels and 15,180 rooms; Culiacán has 133 hotels and 5,951 rooms and Los Mochis 64 hotels and 2,462 rooms. In total, Sinaloa has 26,781 hotel rooms.
The national team match
The soccer match between the teams of Mexico and Guatemala held on Wednesday June 7 in Mazatlán generated an economic spill of 45 million pesos, according to figures from the Ministry of Economic Development, Tourism and Fisheries of the port.
Source: El Sol de Mazatlan
