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Bubba

Dec 8, 2006, 1:57 PM

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Tourism in Southern Mexico

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Well, there is no question that the Oaxaca situation over the past six months has cut deeply into tourism both in Oaxaca and Chiapas states. Perhaps Yucatan and other southern Mexican states have been less severely affected. Merchant friends in San Cristobal tell us the tourism traffic in that city is dismal at best. It´s a shame as there are few safer places to vacation than Chiapas and Oaxaca states in the entire country. Since my pocketbook is not penalized I´m personally pleased but feel sorry for my compatriots who are trying to scratch out a living.

The ignorance among Mexicans and foreigners alike regarding this remarkable region is extraordinary. Their loss, not mine.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Dec 8, 2006, 2:48 PM)

Jim in Cancun / Moderator

Dec 8, 2006, 2:26 PM

Post #2 of 11 (5059 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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Tourism dropped 10% to the U.S. but it took more than just one year--from 2001-2005. Less people felt welcome and safe going to the U.S. after changes brought about by 9/11.

Today's paper reports that there was an 11% drop in tourism in 2006 over the same period in 2005 overall in Mexico. Some can be traced to recovery from Wilma (in my area for example) or other "neutral" situations or problems but the majority I believe can be traced to "negatives" like unrest, lawlessness, protests, drug trafficking which all produced a bad image which in turn produced an insecure feeling among tourists.

If people don't feel safe and welcome somewhere, they just don't go there.

I wonder just exactly how many billions of dollars and how many thousands of jobs those percentage numbers represent.

Rolly

Dec 8, 2006, 2:46 PM

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Re: [Jim in Cancun] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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Certainly the crap from that jingoist Lou Dobbs on CNN doesn't help. What distortions that man spews!

Rolly Pirate

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Bubba

Dec 8, 2006, 3:12 PM

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Re: [Rolly] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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Agreed, Rolly. I´ve been away from television for a few weeks but have long found the Dobbs program to be an affront to rational reporting to
say the least. Down here in San Cristobal, the news is primarily delivered to me via local tabloids out of Tuxtla Gutierrez and over the radio. When we finish our San Cristobal home we will get local news over the satellite as well but that is not yet an option. The local tabloids are a bit crass and vulgar but Chiapas does not support the more sophisticated press one might find in big cities such as Gualalajara. I have to resort, at present, to my internet New York Times fix among others.

I find the ignorance among Mexicans and foreigners alike regarding southern Mexico both vexing and pleasing. I would just as soon people found this place intimidating since hordes of tourists to not improve the ambience of a small city such as San Cristobal.. I do, however, feel sorry for those who have suffered because of the diminished tourism. On the other hand, excessive tourist traffic tends to irritate the indigenous folks the tourists come to gawk at so, what the hell, it´s more pleasant without them and the social security administration sends me the same amount of pesos every month no matter how many Quarter Pounders McDonalds sells over next to Chedraui.

Speaking of those Tuxtla tabloids, they are advertising the new Guadalupe flick right next to the myriad whorehouse adds so common down here. It´s kind of refreshing.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Dec 8, 2006, 3:15 PM)

Bloviator

Dec 9, 2006, 5:22 AM

Post #5 of 11 (5006 views)

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Re: [Jim in Cancun] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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Friends just visited Mexico (City). Tourism is down there also. They got a nice hotel room for $400 pesos that normally runs $1,200.

Bubba

Dec 9, 2006, 3:04 PM

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Re: [dlyman6500] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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Listen to Dlyman. Tourism is dead in Oaxaca and Chiapas states as well as DF at present and there is absolutely no reason for that except ignorance and irresponsible foreign governments poor mouthing Mexico. It´s a great time to come here for bargains and there is no significant social unrest whatsoever. At present, they are celebrating the Festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Chiapas and Oaxaca and the festival is huge here in San Cristobal. What a great show. The indigenous flame carriers are racing up the mountain from Tuxtla Gutierrez to the Guadalupe church on a hilltop in San Cristobal. Unfortunately, big Bubba must dance the jarabe in Teotitlan del Valle next week at their version of the Guadalupe festival. What a sorry spectacle that will be. Pass the mezcal please.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Dec 9, 2006, 3:17 PM)

esperanza

Dec 9, 2006, 4:57 PM

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Re: [dlyman6500] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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It's possible that tourism is down in the DF due to pre-holiday slowdown. Once the Christmas festivities start in earnest (December 16, when the posadas begin), I suspect tourism will be up again--if not in Mexico City, then definitely at the beaches. Many, many Mexicans have vacation time beginning then and ending after the first of the year. Not all tourism is foreign tourism.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

Ed and Fran

Dec 9, 2006, 5:12 PM

Post #8 of 11 (4951 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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I suspect tourism will be up again--if not in Mexico City, then definitely at the beaches. Many, many Mexicans have vacation time beginning then and ending after the first of the year. Not all tourism is foreign tourism.

You've got that right. We're preparing ourselves for the semi-annual invasion of Chilan...., Make that Capitalinos, who will soon descend upon our shores like a flock of tordos. Good for the local merchants, I suppose.

We were in the D.F. again last weekend. Didn't seem any less crowded than usual. But I guess that tourists are just a blip on the radar screen of the population of the metropolitan area. No discounts at our hotel, or at any restaurants we frequented. Maybe we're just not good bargainers.

I do recognize that there was a noted drop in tourism there when the losing presidential candidate maintained the blockades along Juarez and Madero for a couple of months.

E&F

MazDee

Dec 10, 2006, 1:48 AM

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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Darn. Ed, I got all excited about a cheap trip to the big city. Then you said you didn't see any difference in prices. We get a lot of tourists here in Maz at Christmas as well as Easter (2 weeks). I would just as soon use that time to visit somewhere else. I love Mexico City, but used to enjoy it more when I could afford it.

geri

Dec 12, 2006, 9:45 AM

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Re: [Ed and Fran] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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I just spent 10 days in Puerto Escondido. There's warfare there...as in "war for lowest fares." You can get a darn good, full platter fish dinner for 45 pesos. Breakfast incl. coffee, fruit, waffles or eggs, for 25 p. I had a basic motel room, large with ocean view, pool, fan (no a/c but not needed) for 80 pesos a night. If I'd had a partner to snuggle with, the price would have jumped to 100 pesos.

'Tis sad for the business folk for sure. Also too early to tell if tourism will pick up during the holidays. I skipped out before the mad Christmas rush that usually gets revved up by Dec. 23. A group of friends and I were the ONLY people on the beach at Bahia San Agustin in Huatulco, because the ocean was too rough for the 1 p.m. party boat that day.

Oaxaca coast = perfect weather, variety of beaches, (surf, coves, bays). It's sure changed in the 10 years I've been going there. Skydiving is the latest rage, especially at sunset. One to two plane loads each evening are dumped onto the beach in front of Arco Iris in Puerto Escondido. I was approached by a tour guide on the beach who said he would take me on a boat tour of the small bays/coves for 400 pesos (you can reach each cove by water taxi for 30 pesos if you prefer). On the beach I saw a low flying plane circling around the small coves, so I guess you can also see the coves by plane, and, heck, for a few hundred dollars more they'll even push you out of the plane!

A really secluded spot is Bocabarro, up the Manialtepec lagoon by boat then a short distance on the Rio Grande (until it gets too shallow). I saw a cattle drive on the beach there (a first for me). Only 2 cowpokes and about 10 head of steer but still quite a sight! It was unannounced, unexpected, so I'm not sure if I got a good photo or not. Ah, the photo opps on the Oaxaca coast!

Bubba

Dec 13, 2006, 3:15 PM

Post #11 of 11 (4801 views)

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Re: [geri] Tourism in Southern Mexico

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I saw a cattle drive on the beach there (a first for me). Only 2 cowpokes and about 10 head of steer but still quite a sight! It was unannounced, unexpected

Mammalian poop on a beach drains into the water in which ignorant people bathe. It festers and eats your liver and is not cute. Oaxacan beaches are what primitive beaches are everywhere. Delivery systems for e-coli. Swim here and remember the pleasure you had as you puke your guts out a few days later.

More later when I return to my church.

Padre Bubba