BY ALBERTO VALDERRÁBANO
The News
Mexico has a rich cultural heritage that includes customs, traditions, fiestas, food, carnivals, traditional garb and indigenous communities.
One of the most enduring treasures that Mexico has is its cities, from the grand urban areas to towns far removed from modern civilization. These places will continue to pass on to future generations that indelible energy that is Mexico.
The Tourism Secretariat defines Pueblos Mágicos as localities with symbolic characteristics, history, legends, a routine character or transcendental facts. In general, the magic that emanates from each of its socio-cultural manifestations that become an important element in the promotion of national tourism.
The Pueblos Mágicos program contributes to re-imagine the significance of a set of towns that always played a part in the collective imagination of the nation. The towns represent traditions, which are emblematic of important eras that draw national and international visitors.
CHARACTERISTICS
The elements that must be present in order for a town to become part of the Pueblos Mágicos program are that it must be near a tourist area or a large urban center, be accessible by highway and have important cultural, historical or religious value.
The common denominator is that all the towns in the program have played a significant role in the national tradition. They should have enclaves that house cultural treasures, spaces where the routine is resplendent in colors and places that the quotidian life inspires passion through its foods, aromas and are capable of captivating the visitor’s spirits.
Travelers should be able to discover the traditions that the streets of these towns hold. Tourists are transported by the landscape, buildings and homes, most of which have tile roofs, and the facades represent different eras.
The News
Mexico has a rich cultural heritage that includes customs, traditions, fiestas, food, carnivals, traditional garb and indigenous communities.
One of the most enduring treasures that Mexico has is its cities, from the grand urban areas to towns far removed from modern civilization. These places will continue to pass on to future generations that indelible energy that is Mexico.
The Tourism Secretariat defines Pueblos Mágicos as localities with symbolic characteristics, history, legends, a routine character or transcendental facts. In general, the magic that emanates from each of its socio-cultural manifestations that become an important element in the promotion of national tourism.
The Pueblos Mágicos program contributes to re-imagine the significance of a set of towns that always played a part in the collective imagination of the nation. The towns represent traditions, which are emblematic of important eras that draw national and international visitors.
CHARACTERISTICS
The elements that must be present in order for a town to become part of the Pueblos Mágicos program are that it must be near a tourist area or a large urban center, be accessible by highway and have important cultural, historical or religious value.
The common denominator is that all the towns in the program have played a significant role in the national tradition. They should have enclaves that house cultural treasures, spaces where the routine is resplendent in colors and places that the quotidian life inspires passion through its foods, aromas and are capable of captivating the visitor’s spirits.
Travelers should be able to discover the traditions that the streets of these towns hold. Tourists are transported by the landscape, buildings and homes, most of which have tile roofs, and the facades represent different eras.
The residents of Pueblos Mágicos are committed to tourism. The government reports that they benefit from the flow of tourism by becoming excellent hosts for the national and international travelers.
These enchanted places have narrow streets, peculiar construction and in the majority of cases the residents have deep rooted traditions. These towns, much to the delight of national and international tourists, dot the national landscape.
THE FIRST PUEBLO MÁGICO
The Secretary of Tourism and Culture in Hidalgo Roberto Pedraza said that the program spurs economic development, strengthens the sense of belonging for residents and increased employment for locals.
Hidalgo has the honor of having the first Pueblo Mágico, Huasca de Ocampo. The town was nominated in 2001 and has the famous Basalt Prisms located within its boundaries. Three other towns rich in tradition, history and culture in Hidalgo are also part of the program. Mineral del Chico, with the national park El Chico, Mineral del Monte, with its traditional mining pastry and Huichapan, a historical place where you find El Chapitel, the place where the first “Grito de Independencia” was given by revolutionaries Ignacio López Rayón and Andrés Quintana Roo.
Pedraza said that petitions to incorporate Villa de Tezontepec, Tecozautla, Omitlán de Juárez and Chapuluacán in the Pueblos Mágicos program have been submitted.
NEW MAGIC
Presently there are 83 Pueblos Mágicos in the country. After not registering any new towns in the past two years, in 2015 the Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) opened the competition for new applications and provided a new set of criteria.
These enchanted places have narrow streets, peculiar construction and in the majority of cases the residents have deep rooted traditions. These towns, much to the delight of national and international tourists, dot the national landscape.
THE FIRST PUEBLO MÁGICO
The Secretary of Tourism and Culture in Hidalgo Roberto Pedraza said that the program spurs economic development, strengthens the sense of belonging for residents and increased employment for locals.
Hidalgo has the honor of having the first Pueblo Mágico, Huasca de Ocampo. The town was nominated in 2001 and has the famous Basalt Prisms located within its boundaries. Three other towns rich in tradition, history and culture in Hidalgo are also part of the program. Mineral del Chico, with the national park El Chico, Mineral del Monte, with its traditional mining pastry and Huichapan, a historical place where you find El Chapitel, the place where the first “Grito de Independencia” was given by revolutionaries Ignacio López Rayón and Andrés Quintana Roo.
Pedraza said that petitions to incorporate Villa de Tezontepec, Tecozautla, Omitlán de Juárez and Chapuluacán in the Pueblos Mágicos program have been submitted.
NEW MAGIC
Presently there are 83 Pueblos Mágicos in the country. After not registering any new towns in the past two years, in 2015 the Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) opened the competition for new applications and provided a new set of criteria.
The federal agency received 74 applications from towns wishing to be incorporated into the program. Once the requirements have been met, Sectur officials will tour the towns to ensure they meet the standards of the program.
All of the 83 towns presently in the program will be visited and evaluated in 2015. At the end of the year Sectur will announce the results of its evaluation and decide if the towns will continue to form part of the Pueblos Mágicos program.
Since the founding of the program in 2001, Sectur said that indirectly, 5 million people have been employed in various areas of the tourism related to the program.
MILLION INVESTMENT
The federal government announced a 500 million peso ($33.5 million) investment to reactivate the Pueblos Mágicos program. However, it said that the towns themselves are responsible for the sustainability and long-range development.
The 83 towns already enrolled in the program will begin to run all of their telephone, cable and power lines underground. This project will commence with the most emblematic towns with the highest rate of tourism. With the cables underground, the image of the towns is expected to greatly improve.
During this remodeling of the towns, free Wi-Fi access will be installed in all public plazas so that tourists may further enjoy their stay.
The 2014-2018 National Infrastructure Program has a budget of 4 billion pesos to cover costs for the Pueblos Mágicos program.
STRATEGIC SECTOR
The Pueblos Mágicos program represents an integral part of the tourism sector. It generates 8.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 6.8 percent of the national population.
The Tourism Secretariat stated that the Pueblos Mágicos program should be analyzed to identify the strengths, weaknesses and areas of progress.
Once the analysis has been completed, the towns may serve as a tool for community development. They will strengthen social participation to create an agenda with institutions and government agencies to re-evaluate the land and work toward environmental sustainability, Sectur reported.
All of the 83 towns presently in the program will be visited and evaluated in 2015. At the end of the year Sectur will announce the results of its evaluation and decide if the towns will continue to form part of the Pueblos Mágicos program.
Since the founding of the program in 2001, Sectur said that indirectly, 5 million people have been employed in various areas of the tourism related to the program.
MILLION INVESTMENT
The federal government announced a 500 million peso ($33.5 million) investment to reactivate the Pueblos Mágicos program. However, it said that the towns themselves are responsible for the sustainability and long-range development.
The 83 towns already enrolled in the program will begin to run all of their telephone, cable and power lines underground. This project will commence with the most emblematic towns with the highest rate of tourism. With the cables underground, the image of the towns is expected to greatly improve.
During this remodeling of the towns, free Wi-Fi access will be installed in all public plazas so that tourists may further enjoy their stay.
The 2014-2018 National Infrastructure Program has a budget of 4 billion pesos to cover costs for the Pueblos Mágicos program.
STRATEGIC SECTOR
The Pueblos Mágicos program represents an integral part of the tourism sector. It generates 8.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 6.8 percent of the national population.
The Tourism Secretariat stated that the Pueblos Mágicos program should be analyzed to identify the strengths, weaknesses and areas of progress.
Once the analysis has been completed, the towns may serve as a tool for community development. They will strengthen social participation to create an agenda with institutions and government agencies to re-evaluate the land and work toward environmental sustainability, Sectur reported.
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