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Mayan communities anticipate tourism uptick with arrival of nationals for Semana Santa

Costa Maya, Q.R. — With Semana Santa around the corner, Costa Maya communities are anticipating an uptick in tourism. Maya Ka’an communities in particular are gearing up for, what they hope, is a bit of a busier season now that local tourists are own their way.

Gonzalo Merediz Alonso, director of the Friends of Sian Ka’an Association, says it is national tourism that feeds these smaller communities during holiday seasons. Merediz says that while small in comparison to other destinations in the state, the little bit of tourism that they do get goes a long way.

“Before the pandemic, in 2019, we received almost 200,000 visitors with most going to Sian Ka’an,” he said explaining that tourism for the area picked up after promotions began in 2014.

Now, he says, “we are still recovering that market,” adding that since the area is a sustainable destination, studies are being carried out to measure the social and environmental capacity of the destination in order to determine the number of visitors that could arrive.

Merediz says that the Mayan communities were among the 12 promoted globally through the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council. Community representatives participated in fairs and expos to promote local activities to connect the Mayan World with travelers.

He did not say how many visitors they anticipated for the upcoming Semana Santa, but he did mention that travelers who seek out the Mayan regions do so to be with nature.