Tourists Are Not Changing Travel Plans, Says Government

(Chilpancingo, AN 15 November) The General Secretary of the Government of the State of Guerrero, Israel Soberanis Nogueda, denied any drop in international tourism in Guerrero due to the cancellation of reservations. “At this time,” he said, “there are no cancellations” for the high season for international tourism that begins in December. He said no sources have confirmed that foreign tourists, fearful of violence, have changed their plans to come to the beaches of Guerrero and to Taxco.

In spite of the government’s denial, federal Senator David Jiménez Rumbo (PRD) said he had precise information that as many as 40% of foreign tourists, mainly from Canada, have canceled their reservations in Acapulco, Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa, and coastal points in between. Senator Jiménez explained that he understood why, for political reasons, the administration of Zeferindo Torreblanca Galindo finds it “inconvenient” to admit unpleasant facts publicly. However, he felt obliged to investigate the extent of the problem. When asked to comment, Soberanis Nogueda suggested that the senator stick to promoting tourism instead. “Promotional activities are adequate to maintain a satisfactory level of hotel occupancy. We have the reservation reports,” he said.