According to the Secretary of Tourism of Baja California Sur, Maribel Collins, this entity is going through its best moment from the tourist point of view, “because we have a very careful destination, offering much more than sun and sand.”
In this interview with REPORTUR.mxhighlights the direct flight that Iberojet makes between Madrid and Los Cabos, in addition to the alliance of the Sea of Cortez, among other issues (Los Cabos receives Iberojet with its first flight without even a free seat).
What are the bases on which the state of Baja California Sur is trying to grow tourism?
We have sports and artistic activities, as well as a historical, cultural and natural heritage. That tourist who takes great care of the environment visits us a lot and that is why we have tourism for a long time. We visualize that we can grow, with the impulse of development of course, which is welcome, but always taking care of sustainability. We have worked hard on training and promotion, as well as on the market niches to which the destination is directed. The profile of tourism that visits us has had a tendency after the pandemic, to care for and value destinations that promote sustainability and that have that sensitivity, which is why our expectations are very good.
What major challenges exist for the growth of the destination?
Take careful development into account, because for a long time there was a very overwhelming growth in the south, fortunately; with a very big challenge to the north. So we are working to have that balance between a developed South and a North with less growth.
Highlight some novelties of the tourist offer of the state.
We are with the recent announcement of Pueblo Mágico de Santa Rosalía, in the northern municipality of Mulegé, which is the largest in territorial extension in the entire country. There are different types of tourist attractions, such as cave paintings dating between 6 and 7 thousand years, the largest salt mine in the world in Guerrero Negro, whale watching of all types: gray, blue, humpback. On the other hand, there is sighting of orcas, dolphins and birds in Loreto; we have the route of the Missions, and some Magical Towns sought after by that tourism that likes to know and see the essence and traditions of each of the destinations. We have Los Cabos, well known and positioned; La Paz very careful; paradisiacal islands, beautiful and almost virgin beaches with transparent and clean sea.
How has tourism promotion been focused and what is being worked on to boost the arrival of international visitors?
The promotion is aimed at that market niche where we have a lot of connectivity. Likewise, we are working on new emerging niches, such as the flight we have pending from La Paz to Los Angeles, which was taken a long time ago and was lost; so we are resuming it, I still can’t say with which airline, but we will announce it soon. We have an international flight from Madrid to Los Cabos that has given us very good results. We have just had a presence in Madrid, Spain, to show the existing offer and what I mentioned before. That is why Baja California Sur is at its best, because many countries that we have visited are very interested in this destination.
What are the expectations regarding the recent Sea of Cortez Alliance, which includes other states in this region?
It is an alliance between the five states that have the Sea of Cortez: Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit. It not only implies that the governors have come together to do it, it also has to do with the history of these entities. We agree on many traditions, artistic issues and gastronomy. The expectations are to generate an integration of tourist products and share the successful projects that give us results. There are economic ties, as well as social and family ones. We are from the north and we are characterized by many things in common. More than anything, it is to strengthen ties of brotherhood, but also important economic projects. There are conditions to achieve this integration. Now we had the First Festival of Magical Towns of the Sea of Cortez, in Todos Santos, but we are going to announce more events like the Bisbee’s fishing tournament that we will have soon.
