Now that the busy Semana Santa and Semana Mayor weeks surrounding Easter have wrapped up, the Puerto Peñasco Convention and Visitors Bureau (OCV) reports the holiday break welcomed over 63,000 visitors to the area. This represents economic revenue of approximately 78 million pesos to the area (about 4.5 million USD).
Easter break data is based on surveys with hotels and resorts, as well as estimates on the number of people who stay with family or friends for vacation. Official numbers point to a 52% average occupancy rate throughout the week leading up to Easter, with 70% occupancy over the main weekend. This means about 50,000 people stayed at area hotels and resorts, while the OCV deems at least another 15,000 people stayed with family and friends in the area.
A press release from the local Convention and Visitors Bureau detailed, “The influx of tourism could be seen as early as Thursday and through Easter Sunday, with Friday and Saturday being the peak points. Streets were packed throughout the break, with the busiest spots being the Malecón, Calle 13, oyster farms, La Loma “Competition Hill”, Playa Hermosa, Sandy Beach, Mi Playa, La Cholla, la Explanada just off Calle 13, and Playa Tesoro.”
The OCV also emphasized a fundamental part of the vacation period was the presence of safety and rescue crews from the three levels of government who maintained safety and monitoring operations along area beaches, within the city, and on highways.
In addition, the “Sonora Me Encanta” (I love Sonora) brigade of the Sonoran Secretary of Tourism was on hand throughout the Easter break, providing important information and tourism kits to visitors.
