A tourism observatory could soon be established in Chiapas, a project that aims to integrate key information from the sector to improve decision-making and maintain statistical control, as announced by the state Secretary of Tourism, Segundo Guillén Gordillo.
The official explained that there are few observatories of this type in Mexico, among them the one in Guanajuato, and expressed confidence that Chiapas will join that list this year.
The announcement comes in a context where the hotel sector, especially in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, has expressed concerns about low occupancy rates and the growth of platforms like Airbnb.
In this regard, Guillén Gordillo reported that he held a meeting with a group of hoteliers from the city center at the beginning of Holy Week, who reported occupancy levels between 70 and 75 percent during that period, although with a different approach than usual: many arrivals were through direct sales at the front desk, not advance reservations.
The secretary acknowledged that it’s too early to declare victory or talk about record numbers in Chiapas, but affirmed that business owners are showing enthusiasm because things have been steadily improving.
Destinations like Comitán, another Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town), saw similar figures, while other tourist spots with a different focus, such as beaches, rivers, and waterfalls, experienced lower visitor numbers due to the type of tourism sought during the holiday season.
Regarding the Airbnb phenomenon, Guillén Gordillo indicated that discussions are pending with the company to obtain data that will allow them to understand the profile of visitors, their place of origin, the number of travelers, and their preferences.
All this information will be integrated into the tourism observatory, a tool that, according to the official, will contribute to designing better strategies for the sector.
Source: cuartopoder
