Well, they’re at it again. This time I recently read an article and then watched a video posted on the azcentral.com website blaming the lack of business in PP, in part, on security concerns. The video went so far as to inform viewers that one young college student will be going to PP for Spring Break this year but that her little ‘Grupo’ has hired FIVE (5) body guards to tag along…
Safety is not the ‘main’ problem and all who live or travel here often know that to be the case. Yet some city officials went up to the Colleges in AZ recently pretty much pleading with the schools that they not post any travel warnings for Spring Break so that the ‘kiddies’ will come down, party and spend money…
And to insure they do, Francisco Macias, director of public security, said Puerto Peñasco, Mexico, “is beefing up security along highways and in town to build confidence among prospective visitors” and readers of the azcentral.com piece can rest assured that there will be “more police and ambulances in town and on the main highway leading here.”
The real issue facing PP and the downturn in tourism is also not the flu or the passport ‘thingy’ the ‘authorities’ want everyone to believe and although the global depression did contribute to a drop in business (everywhere) the really big culprit today is the basic lack of value (aka: affordability) on many goods, services, restaurants, shopping, etc. here in Peñasco!
On a pure ‘cash & carry’ basis, so to speak, I can, for example, have my eyes examined and purchase eye glasses or get dental work done in AZ (and other States) for less than I can in Peñasco!
I can also eat for less dinero up north (dine-in/out) or have a few ‘cold-ones’ at the end of the day (including US, Mexican and imported beers) and, oh, by the way, I can also rent nice ‘nightly’ and/or ‘weekly’ vacation accommodations for much less up north that have ‘all’ the amenities.
You see, something has happened to PP (and indeed most of Mexico) over the decades: Greed trumped value and the ‘bang-for-the-buck’ attraction of PP (and most of Mexico) is but a faint memory!
¡Viva México y Puerto Peñasco!
elgitanopenasco@gmail.com
