Chapala is widely identified as a place of romantic enchantment, principally thanks to famed Mexican composer Pepe Guizar. Images of enamored souls embracing on the lake’s moonlit shore come to mind in listening to his catchy ditty about the place he labels “rinconcito de amor” – a little corner of love.
Mayor Javier Degollado is convinced his administration can tap into the Guizar mystique to open a lucrative niche in the local tourism industry. He says pitching Chapala as an idyllic setting for luxury weddings will be at the forefront when the local government sets up for business at next week’s bustling Tianguis Turístico in Guadalajara.
The huge tourism fair is expected to attract thousands of visitors, including tour operators, travel agents, media and entrepreneurs from around the globe. Chapala’s marketing plan will put a special spotlight on local amenities that appeal to wedding planners in search of enticing destinations for their clientele. The area offers excellent year-round weather, gorgeous landscapes, historic churches, ample lodging options and a variety of well-pointed party venues that fit the bill for up-scale nuptial celebrations.
Curiously, the mayor and key staffers apparently were not aware of the huge wedding event held last weekend on a private estate in lower La Floresta. A fleet of huge trucks carrying light and sound equipment and additional party gear were parked at the intersection of Paseo de las Brisas and Las Olas all day Friday.
Neighbors in the normally quiet subdivision and residents living as far off as Chula Vista and central Ajijic reported losing sleep as fireworks and high decibel music filled the air throughout Saturday night and well past dawn the following morning.
According to Chapala licensing office director Efraín Parra, the happening took place without prior application for the requisite municipal permit. He says regulations-including time and volume limits for music-are in place to assure the safety and peace of mind of guests and the public. Late night disturbances should be reported promptly to police headquarters, telephone 765-4444.
Promoting the area as a utopia for tying the knot is only one angle of the administration’s strategy to expand and diversify the tourism market. Another new target group in the government’s sights is the growing generation of national and foreign retirees. The concept is to promote package deals for tour groups that might encompass a 48-hour itinerary to visit points of interest related to history and nature, enjoy gallery and restaurant hopping and free time for shopping sprees.
Degollado explains that the general thrust is to allure more visitors who have the leisure time and economic means for overnight or longer stays. The overall goal is to attract greater investment in the hospitality and entertainments sectors, which in turn will generate new employment opportunities for the local populace.
Meanwhile, the city’s tourism office is preparing to set up a WhatsApp group to facilitate arranging group bookings at local hotels, bed-and-breakfast places, rental properties and dining spots. The government registry currently shows 25 hotels, 21 guest homes, seven apartment complexes and 155 restaurants with bar services licensed to do business, giving them eligibility to sign on to the hottest communication application.