Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – At a meeting between the Municipal Government, chaired by Arturo Dávalos Peña, and the restaurateurs in the Malecón area on Friday, it was agreed that starting this Monday, May 25, access to these restaurants, which have remained inactive due to the closure of the boardwalk, will be made available.
However, all non-essential businesses located on the Malecón will continue to be closed to the public until the federal or state government announces the new provisions for resuming day-to-day operations.
The president of the Commission of Tourism and Economic Development, Guadalupe Guerrero Carvajal, reported that officials from the City Council toured the Malecón on Friday to delimit the area to be opened for this purpose.
Afterwards, the municipal officials determined that, starting Monday, a section equivalent to a sidewalk will be opened from the Hotel Rosita on Calle 31 de Octubre to El Faro del Malecón on Calle Morelos (which will serve as access points). The walkway will be duly defined and the rest of the boardwalk will remain cordoned off and closed.
The mayor pointed out that Citizen Security will be at the access points at each end of the Malecón and the entrance of bicycles or skateboards will not be allowed. Access will only be for people who wish to go to any of the restaurants located in this area, or to any shops providing essential services, such as the pharmacies that are also located in this area. “We are going to take care that the area is open predominantly for diners,” he said.
He indicated that admission will be given only from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, and access to restaurant providers will be given from 6 to 10 in the morning. He also added that those businesses that are not within the list of essential activities, such as boutiques, jewelry stores and the artisan corridor, will not be able to open until the state and federal authorities authorize it, and these businesses have completed the corresponding processes for re-opening.
The restaurants that will be re-opening on Monday must comply with the mandatory health measures, such as operating at 50 percent of their capacity, keeping the tables within the designated distance, and not allowing more than 6 diners per table, among other safety measures. In addition, the exclusive consumption of alcoholic beverages will not be allowed, but must be as an accompaniment to food, and establishments will not be able to take their tables out onto the walkway.
The councilor urged the restaurateurs of this area, through its president Fernando Pineda, to whom he directly disclosed these actions, to cooperate so that these measures are complied with and no other determinations should be made. He also emphasized that only this access to businesses will be opened, but the rest of the Malecón will remain closed as well as all recreational activities. He also reported that the City Council will do the general cleaning of this space.
For his part, Fernando Pineda thanked the mayor for his intervention in making this first stage possible, for which he will share the information with his members so that this work has the desired success for all. Eduardo García Joya, from the Municipal Tourism Directorate, also participated in the meeting.
Municipal Government news bulletin translated and edited by Luis Antonio for BanderasNews.com.
