UPDATE: After Nayarit state’s status on the federal epidemiological traffic light turned red, Governor Antonio Echevarría García announced that the beaches on the Riviera Nayarit will not reopen on Monday as planned. The news was delivered via his social media accounts, where he also stated that the provision to open Bahía de Banderas hotels up to a third of their capacity is maintained.
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – The governments of Jalisco and Nayarit on Friday evening announced that the first step towards the revival of tourism will begin on Monday, June 15th with the gradual reopening of Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas hotels and beaches.
This measure was announced to the hotel businessmen of both destinations during a Friday afternoon meeting, chaired by the Governors of Jalisco and Nayarit, Enrique Alfaro Ramírez and Antonio Echevarría García respectively, as well as the Mayors of Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas, Arturo Dávalos Peña and Jaime Cuevas Tello.
During this meeting, Governor Alfaro Ramírez explained that the reactivation of tourism could not wait any longer; however, it is important that all residents continue to practice the preventive measures that have been adopted since the beginning of the health contingency, and that all business establishments comply with the health and safety protocols.
“We are in a moment of acceleration of the rate of infections, we have to go step-by-step, and the first step will be to adjust the level of hotel occupancy to levels of between 25 and 30 percent, and to allow them to start operating their common areas,” said Jalisco Governor, Enrique Alfaro.
He indicated that in addition to common areas, hotels will be permitted to reopen their beach areas on Monday, following specific health guidelines that were validated by the technical boards of both state governments to ensure the health of all the inhabitants and visitors of this region.
Likewise, all public beaches in Puerto Vallarta and Bahía Banderas will reopen on Monday, with social distancing measures in place. Municipal authorities will be in charge of monitoring residents’ and visitors’ compliance to the health and safety protocols.
Puerto Vallarta Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña said that the protocols for the subsequent reactivation of other public spaces, such as boardwalks, piers, public parks, sports units, golf courses, and shopping malls, are currently under review, and that an opening date has not yet been established.
“We agreed to start the protocol review of these public spaces, not to their opening. We will begin to review prescripts and make decisions step by step. The dictates for the reactivation of each area will be unique as we coordinate this gradual reopening to tourism.
As we will maintain the social isolation measures that are currently in place in Puerto Vallarta at this stage, night clubs, bars, cantinas, and other entertainment venues, will remain closed until further notice,” Mayor Dávalos said.
Sources: jalisco.gob.mx • puertovallarta.gob.mx