Governor Announces Plan to Rescue Tianguis
(Chilpancingo, AN 13 April) Yesterday Governor Aguirre announced that as well as fighting for the return of the Tianguis Turístico, Acapulco’s 36-year old tourism fair, he was preparing a series of events and activities in the area of “cultural tourism,” popular music concerts for example. He was also intensifying security operations that would dampen the violence and generate confidence among tourists.
As concerns the most recent violence on the outskirts of Acapulco, the governor said that the State of Guerrero is taking affirmative action to prevent crimes of violence. The State Police are now undergoing a process of upgrading their training, even while the rolls are being cleared of anyone suspected of having ties with drug gangs. He said, “Already the first 109 officers have gone to San Luis Potosí to take the training, which includes academic and professional instruction. They should be on the job by Holy Week. With all due respect, I will call upon the mayors to do likewise, as this is a process that we should accomplish in parallel.”
The governor was asked if he had spoken with the purchasers of tourism services who had supposedly asked Federal Tourism Secretary Gloria Guevara to move the event from Acapulco. He said, “No, in fact they were going to give me a date for such a meeting and have not. But independent of that, I am not going to stop any action that your tourism centers require, no matter how the Tianguis Turístico controversy unfolds.”
Tourism alternatives include evenings of dance in the Zócalo: traditional “danzón” for the older crowd, and rock and salsa for the younger set. We shall provide prizes as an incentive. Another idea is to hand out coloring books and crayons to the youngest tourists, to entertain them while their parents see the sights. Another is to sponsor yoga and fitness classes.
When asked what the security plan is for the “tourism alternatives” initiative, Aguirre said that he wants to involve the citizens as well as reinforcing the number of peace officers. The governor mentioned Ventura Beach (“Playa Ventura”) as an example of “non-traditional” tourism. Playa Ventura is an unspoiled beach for camping and ecotourism, about 125 km southeast of Acapulco. He said, “They have organized the locals to help with security for their visitors.”
