Meagan Drillinger
Mazatlan, a destination on Mexico’s Pacific Coast
that has seen more than its share of tourism woes over the past few years, is
looking ahead with optimism. Growth is everywhere, and the destination has a
new secretary of tourism, who is brimming with confidence. Rafael Lizarraga, the
former undersecretary of tourism in Mazatlan, spoke with Travel Weekly’s Mexico
eletter about what’s in store for the destination.
In 2015, Mazatlan welcomed 2.2 million tourists,
a 24% increase over 2014. The rebound has been even more impressive on the
cruise front. Mazatlan was slammed hard in 2011 after a bunch of cruise lines
pulled out of the port due to safety and security issues. Last year, Mazatlan
welcomed 195,158 cruise passengers, which is still a small figure compared with
destinations like Cancun but represents a 132.4% increase in cruise visitors
compared with 2015. Lizarraga expects these numbers to continue to grow by at
least 20% this year.
“The growth continues in Nuevo Mazatlan, where
resorts, marinas, vacation residential areas and golf courses built a few years
ago are now consolidated and are the base for the continuity,” says Lizarraga.
“The new highway over the mountains to Durango has been operating for two years
now, and the recently opened turnpike that connects three main highways to the
tourist zone allows for more accessibility and options for tours and excursions
to the historical and charming villages around Mazatlan, and even to Durango,
located only a three-hour drive from the tourist zone.”
Lizarraga said the destination continues to
invest in infrastructure, spurred by the tourism recovery. “We will
specifically invest in the Golden Zone to ensure the visitor experience stays
at the highest quality. The investment will go toward construction of new
roads, renovated sidewalks and added signage to pedestrian areas of the city,” he
said. “Additionally, the Historic District continues its expansion and
refurbishing program.”
Mazatlan is also preparing for the arrival of a
new development, Playa Espiritu, an area 50 miles to the south of the city that
promises to be what Lizaragga called the “new Cancun” of Mexico.
Construction on the project began in 2008 but has stalled on several occasions due to lack of funding. However, it recently received a long-term budget commitment from the federal government, and things are progressing again. One 53-room business hotel will open soon; the planned hotel capacity for the entire project upon completion is 10,000 rooms. A second phase of development will begin by the end of this year, which will include a golf course, a beach club and street lighting.
“The development continues with Congress-approved
federal funds, guaranteed through 2018. We’re confident this project
will increase Mazatlan’s visibility,” Lizarraga said.
For travelers who are looking to make Mazatlan a
home base but explore what the surrounding area has to offer, there is much to
discover, he said, “starting with the charming villages in the area that are
older than Mazatlan.”
“El Quelite, La Noria, Copala, Concordia, El
Rosario, Cosala, Teacapan; each has its own character, cuisine and traditions.
And the city of Durango, three hours from Mazatlan, is a destination in itself
that can be conveniently visited while spending a couple of nights there. For
people who love nature, the most important estuary formation is in Teacapan,
where bird-watching is a must. Cosala is a government-designated ‘Magic Town’ [places
singled out for their natural beauty, cultural riches or historical
relevance] where tourists can spend three or four nights and do sightseeing in
addition to relaxing and enjoying the beauty of this historic village.”