Long Weekend Brings 92,000 Tourists

(Acapulco, AN 16 November) Yesterday, more than 92,000 visitors to Acapulco for the long “Revolution Centennial” weekend departed for their homes. According to the federal tourism promotion agency (SEFOTUR), the economic inflow created by the wave of holiday travelers was an estimated $207 million pesos. The toll road to Mexico City was jammed with departing tourists, starting at about noon yesterday. According to the highway police, vehicles entered the highway at the rate of one every four seconds, while departures occurred once every 8 seconds.

Official figures indicate overall hotel occupancy at 70.8% for Acapulco during the holiday weekend, a few points higher than expected. The municipal authorities pegged the number slightly higher, at 75.2%. The Diamond Zone reported the highest occupancy, at 87.2%, with the Golden Zone only slightly behind at 78.1% and the Traditional Zone down near 35%.

SEFOTUR head Ernesto Rodríguez Escalona was pleased with the results of the long weekend, declaring that this augers well for a solid year-end vacation period for the port city. Meanwhile, restaurateurs reported a drop to about 40% of capacity for the holiday. In hard times, many tourists avoid the bars and restaurants and purchase supplies at local supermarkets instead.