A few days before the end of the summer holidays, the president of the Alliance of Businessmen of the Nature Segment in Chiapas, Pablo Albores, estimated that the fall in tourist influx in the sector was around 60%. Numbers that are very negative and that derive from the social situation that some regions have faced.
“Tourism did not pick up in many places that previously had an excellent influx, both from the national and foreign markets,” he said.
He added that after the Coronavirus Covid19 pandemic, this year has been very difficult in terms of tourism.
As an example, he explained that in the part of the Lacandon jungle, especially in what corresponds to the areas of Bonampak, Las Nubes, Lacanjá and Yaxchilán, the current holiday season was not perceived and the presence of few tourists was barely noticed on weekends, without that representing the expected numbers.
One of the destinations that did benefit from the holidays due to its proximity to the capital, and because violence has not escalated in the area, is San Cristóbal de Las Casas and its surroundings. That is where people who like the nature segment have been able to enjoy the spaces, said the president of the business alliance.
He highlighted that some tourist routes such as the “Cima de las Cotorras”, the El Aguacero or Malpasito waterfalls, an hour from the capital, involve traveling along two highways that have become complicated in recent months due to violence and roadblocks, which are Tuxtla-Berriozábal-Coita and the one that goes from Tuxtla to Puente Chiapas.
“Many tour operators in the state that support the nature segment that make the trips, have also had a decrease for the same reason. Nobody wants to risk moving vehicles when we know that we are helpless on the roads,” he complained.
Albores mentioned that so far there is no certainty as to how businessmen will close the year; because there are still no reservations for the December vacation period, due to conflicts in some areas that hinder the entry of tourism.
He mentioned that the drop in the nature segment can translate into a worrying figure that also impacts the promotions that have been made of Chiapas as a tourist destination.
Source: lucesdelsiglo
