Hotel industry representatives in Mazatlán presented a 16-point Economic Reactivation Plan to Sinaloa Governor Graciela Domínguez Nava, with the objective of accelerating the recovery of tourism and returning the destination to the levels of hotel occupancy it had before the difficulties that began affecting the city in 2024.
José Ramón Manguart Sánchez, president of the Tres Islas Hotel Association, said the proposal was presented during a meeting with the governor and other representatives. He described the meeting as positive because authorities showed openness to hearing the situation facing the hotel industry and considering possible solutions.
The plan seeks to involve the private sector directly in the recovery process rather than having business owners simply observe or criticize the situation. The hoteliers said their proposal is based on their experience and knowledge of the tourism industry.
More Tourism Funding for 2027
One of the main requests is to increase the budget for the Sinaloa Secretariat of Tourism for 2027.
Hotel representatives took advantage of the presence of legislators at the meeting to explain the need for greater financial resources for tourism promotion and recovery programs.
The sector believes that additional resources are necessary to strengthen promotion, improve infrastructure, generate events and create new tourism experiences that can attract more visitors to Mazatlán.
Maintenance of the Tourist Area
Another major proposal is to carry out extensive maintenance throughout Mazatlán’s main tourist area.
Manguart explained that being a coastal destination exposes infrastructure to constant deterioration caused by the sea, weather, the passage of time and intensive use of public spaces.
The hotel industry believes that maintaining the city’s tourist image is essential for keeping Mazatlán competitive and attractive to visitors.
Tax Facilities for Hotels
The hoteliers are also requesting better conditions for complying with their tax obligations.
However, Manguart emphasized that they are not asking for taxes to be forgiven. Instead, they want mechanisms and deadlines that would give hotels greater financial flexibility to meet their obligations on time.
He explained that hotels do not all face the same financial circumstances. Some are locally owned, others were developed using loans, while some businesses operate hotels through lease agreements.
Greater Security on Highways and in Tourist Areas
Security is another central component of the 16-point plan.
The hotel industry recognized the security operations carried out by federal forces both inside Mazatlán and on the highways leading to the city. However, they are asking for these operations to continue throughout the year and not only during vacation periods.
Particular attention is being requested for the Tepic-Mazatlán, Durango-Mazatlán and Culiacán-Mazatlán corridors, which are important routes for visitors traveling by road.
According to the figures presented by the hotel industry, 88% of Mazatlán’s visitors arrive by road, while only 12% arrive by air. Therefore, maintaining safe highway corridors is considered essential for restoring travelers’ confidence.
Mazatlán Depends Mainly on Domestic Tourism
One of the most important figures highlighted during the meeting was the composition of Mazatlán’s tourism market.
According to the hotel industry:
- 96% of visitors are domestic tourists.
- 4% are international tourists.
- 88% arrive by road.
- 12% arrive by air.
Because of this, hotel representatives argue that strengthening domestic tourism should be one of the central priorities of the recovery strategy, while continuing to promote the destination internationally.
Manguart said that domestic tourism currently represents the main economic support for Mazatlán’s hotel industry.
More Events and Tourism Experiences
The plan also proposes creating new events and tourism experiences capable of attracting visitors throughout the year.
The hotel industry wants to strengthen Mazatlán’s tourism offering and encourage activities that can generate demand even outside the traditional vacation seasons.
The proposal also includes providing greater support and facilities for road tourism and charter operators, both of which contribute to bringing visitors to the destination.
A Difficult Situation for the Tourism Industry
The hotel industry says Mazatlán has been experiencing a complicated period since 2024. The situation has been accompanied by greater competition from other destinations seeking to attract the same domestic and international visitors.
Representatives therefore believe that Mazatlán needs coordinated action between the government and private sector, combining security, tourism promotion, infrastructure improvements, fiscal measures and new tourism products.
The proposal is intended to help the destination recover its previous levels of occupancy as quickly as possible.
Source: noroeste
