LGBTQ+ tourism reaffirmed its importance as one of Puerto Vallarta’s main economic drivers, generating an estimated 2 billion pesos in revenue during Pride Month, celebrated in May, solidifying the destination’s position as a leading international destination for this segment of travelers.
According to data released by the Puerto Vallarta LGBTQ+ Commerce and Tourism Association, the destination received approximately 240,000 LGBTQ+ tourists during May, while domestic tourism reached 1.309 billion pesos, the highest figure recorded in the last six years, according to the Jalisco State Tourism Information System.
Currently, the Romantic Zone remains the area with the highest property value in Puerto Vallarta, largely due to the growth and consolidation of this tourism segment, which represents more than two million visitors annually and contributes around 40 percent of the destination’s tourism GDP.
The support of the Puerto Vallarta government, the Jalisco state government, and the Tourism Trust has allowed Vallarta Pride to solidify its position as the event generating the most room nights for the municipality, strengthening its standing as one of the leading LGBTQ+ tourism destinations in Latin America.
Although international tourism has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the association highlighted the increase in domestic tourism and the strengthening of Vallarta Pride’s international presence. Vallarta Pride currently maintains collaborative ties with NYC Pride and participates in events held in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Vancouver, and World Pride Amsterdam.
The event also has the support of the Diversity Council, the Diversity Sub-Directorate, and the Municipal Diversity Council, as well as civil society organizations such as the Vallarta Gay+ Community Center and Red Diversidad, which promote initiatives in favor of inclusion, LGBTQ+ rights, and social participation.
As part of this year’s activities, the Pride march was led by members of the Vallarta Altruistic Network and activist Juan Jacobo Hernández Chávez, recognized as one of the pioneers of the LGBTQ+ movement in Mexico.
Likewise, companies in the tourism sector, such as Viva, Vallarta Adventures, Grupo Garbo, Almar Group, Tryst Hotels, ETN, Gecko Rent-a-Car, and The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta, participated in the activities, helping to solidify Vallarta Pride as one of the events with the greatest economic and tourism impact for the destination.
Source: jalisco.quadratin
