By many accounts it would appear that between the recent Holy Week, Espring Break and the US Memorial weekend holiday lots of folks visited Peñasco and a good time was had by all. Plus there were no major or significant problemos to report, at least to my knowledge.
This is all good news but I do have a bone to pick with a couple nameless business owners here who concluded that since people were starting to come back to Peñasco again, and in significant numbers, it is the perfect time for them to jack up their prices, rates, charges, fees, etc.
Now don’t get me wrong because I, too, am a hungry money grubbing capitalist. But the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of people who travel here aren’t worried about ‘safety’ issues and instead, as they have for decades, are seeking a great time and at a fair market value (aka: prices, costs, etc.).
As I’ve written before, and especially with some of these business owners now increasing their ‘prices’ by double digits, I fear many visitors will return home, whether they be first time or ‘seasoned’ visitors here and ponder the cost of their little trip and then the next time they’re ready to hit el camino they’ll look around and see where else they can get a better ‘deal’ (more bang for the peso).
I’m a ‘volume’ kind of guy when it comes to most businesses and especially when, as wonderful as our little slice of Paradise is, ‘people’ do have other wonderful options/destinations that are close (aka: drive-to) such as San Felipe, San Carlos/Guaymas, El Golfo de Santa Clara and the Ensenada area, etc.
Of course these business owners who are raising prices won’t pay any attention to El Gitano or consider what is really good for the community over the long haul; as long as they can rake in an extra Peso or two ‘today’ that is just fine with them.
But I caution you all. Travel and Tourism is a highly competitive market and if you keep increasing prices for just the pure greed and/or pleasure of doing so, the day will once again come where our town will be empty and our former visitors and all their pesos will be having a good time somewhere else.
A Gypsy can always dream!
¡Viva Puerto Peñasco y México!
Gypsy
elgitanopenasco@gmail.com
