The National Strategy of Pueblos Magicos has been published

The Ministry of Tourism has estimated that at the end of the year, national tourism will total around 58 million visitors in contrast to the 102 million tourists registered last year.

In this context, today the National Strategy for Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) was published in the Federal Official Gazette. With the above, Mexican authorities hope to promote the arrival of tourists to reactivate the activity of the tourism sector, so affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to fulfill the guiding principles of the National Development Plan and PROSECTUR that seek to consolidate the tourism sector as a pillar for the national economy and a priority factor for the wellbeing of Mexicans living and working in tourism destinations.

Let’s remember that the Pueblos Mágicos were created in 2001 as a strategy for tourism development. To date, Mexico has 121 Magical Towns located in 123 municipalities of 31 states. It should be noted that of these 121 Pueblos Mágicos, only 16 have fully complied with all the requirements for permanence set forth in the General Guidelines for incorporation and permanence in the Pueblos Mágicos Program, published in the DOF on September 26, 2014.

In this regard, it should be noted that the Ministry of Tourism is considering the possibility of revoking the designation of the Pueblos Mágicos that have not complied with the relevant requirements, particularly in relation to the percentage of satisfaction of the residents of the towns, the number of trained tourist service providers, the average stay of their visitors, and the satisfaction of the tourists.

The National Strategy is the guide for the development of a new vision of tourism in the Pueblos Mágicos. By virtue of the same, the States and Municipalities that have in their territorial demarcation at least one Magical Town, will implement a State and Municipal Strategy, aligned to the fulfillment of the objectives of the PND, of the PROSECTUR and of the National Strategy.

The process of incorporation as a Pueblo Mágico by localities will be carried out prior to a call issued by the Ministry of Tourism. For this purpose, the Ministry will communicate the date of its beginning through the official website https://www.gob.mx/sectur/ and other means that it has available.

In order to maintain the designation, among other requirements, the Pueblos Mágicos must have a duly constituted Citizens’ Committee that will have the purpose of guaranteeing the inclusion of all the sectors of society involved in the well-being and development of the tourist activity in the Pueblos Mágicos, within the framework of the planning of the national tourist policy of the States and Municipalities.

The localities that have been appointed as Pueblos Mágicos will be beneficiaries of a set of rights that will allow them to be recipients of diverse initiatives that promote well-being and sustainable tourism, implemented and managed by the Ministry of Tourism; they will also be subject to obligations focused on attending to the provisions issued by said agency.

Within the rights of the aforementioned localities will be to use the name to promote itself as a Pueblo Mágico. The Ministry of Tourism may also authorize the use of said trademark to individuals and companies, other than States and Municipalities, who request it, in order to promote the well-being and sustainable tourism of the Pueblos Mágicos.

Finally, the Ministry responsible has announced that the second Tianguis of Pueblos Mágicos will be held from November 26 to 29 in San Luis Potosí and that it will be subject to the health regulations of the orange color coding system.

If you have any questions or require advice in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact any of our partners or associates.

Yours sincerely,

Cannizzo, Ortiz y Asociados, S.C.