Despite efforts to attract the flow of tourists to Mazatlán during the December holiday period, the destination closed 20 points below what was had in the same period in 2023.
And the collateral effects of the violence that Sinaloa has been experiencing since September 9 have affected the tourism sector and all the businesses linked to the activity.
The counselor of the Association of Hotels and Tourism Companies of Mazatlán, José Gámez Valle, stated that hotel occupancies at the end of 2024 were well below the achievements of the last 5 years, with up to 20 percentage points.
He recalled that traditionally, New Year’s Eve closed with 95 percent occupancy, but 2024 barely reached 80 percent.
Bad streak
The president of the National Chamber of Commerce of Mazatlán, Francisca Cázarez Oliveros, stated that due to the bad economic streak caused by violence, there was no money left to cover some Christmas bonuses and the closure of some restaurants.
Although the sales levels obtained in 2023 have not been reached, there was an upturn in sales due to the celebration of Christmas and New Year.
She explained that another factor that affected the sector was online purchases in stores outside the state, even the country, leaving aside local commerce.
The Canaco Mazatlan projected an economic spill of 1,156 million pesos, against the almost 4,000 of 2023 that Guadalupe-Reyes left in 2023.
Last-minute rebound
Although there has been an improvement in sales in shops and restaurants, the numbers are well below the previous year, but much better than in previous months.
Recovery
The Secretary of Tourism of Sinaloa, Mireya Sosa Osuna, pointed out that hotel occupancy in Mazatlán during the New Year remained at an average of 80 percent.
“We were sharing some videos of what the boardwalk looked like, full of people, it looked like the Carnival, literally, both on the boardwalk where the letters are, also in the Historic Center,” she said.
She also pointed out that during 2024 the Mazatlán International Airport registered an increase of 16.50 percent in terms of passenger flow compared to 2023.
The president of the Tres Islas Hotel Association, José Ramón Manguart, indicated that despite the events that are being experienced, Mazatlán closed the year well in the hotel industry with an occupancy close to 80 percent.
“Mazatlán continues to be on the map of investors and the port is very much moving forward, despite the complicated situation in the state; Tourism arrived on the Mazatlán-Durango and Tepic-Mazatlán highways; people who come from the states of the Central-North Corridor of the country, in addition, national and international flights arrived full of passengers,” he said.
Great expectations in 2025
Manguart Sánchez specified that there is an excellent synergy with the state and federal secretariats of Tourism, with the municipal Government and the hoteliers.
He added that the expectations for 2025 are very good, Mazatlán continues to be one of the favorite destinations for national tourism, and although January is traditionally low, Carnival comes in February, which attracts thousands of tourists to the destination.
Restaurants
Meanwhile, the president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry in Mazatlán, Erick Mandujano, reported that for the end of the year that just ended, the city’s restaurants registered an occupancy of 80 percent.
“I expected a good number, but the result has been better. Although some businesses are below, the vast majority are in that range of occupancy, which is quite interesting,” he said.
He pointed out that reservations have shown a last-minute trend, which is common at this time, since many people make spontaneous decisions to attend events scheduled in hotels and restaurants.
Cruises
In the cruise segment, Mazatlán obtained good results during 2024, as it closed with the arrival of 122 tourist cruises that brought 470,618 passengers and 160,367 crew members on board.
According to the Secretary of Tourism of Sinaloa, the benefits that international visitors leave in the port are very good, since during 2024 they generated an estimated economic spill of more than 675 million pesos, according to the partial balance of the annual report of this area.
In January, 15 ships arrived, in February there were 11, in March there were 12 and in April 11. In May, 8 ships arrived, while in June, July and August there were 4 cruise ships for each month, and in September the number rose to 6.
