The requirements for a city in order to maintain the Pueblo Mágico are diverse and range from compliance with administrative regulations to infrastructure and services.
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December 11, 2020 5 min read
This article was translated from our Spanish edition using AI technologies. Errors can occur due to this process.
What are the magical cities? They are one of Mexico’s great tourist treasures. These places are a group of Mexican communities that have preserved their traditions, culture, and history. They have specific attractions such as beautiful colonial architecture, traditional cuisine and offer a calm and peaceful pace of life. In addition, they have become protagonists of the country’s tourist activities over the past two decades.
How did the magical cities come about?
Ajijic, Jalisco / Image: Via México Unconocido
This tourism program was launched and implemented in 2001 by the Tourism Secretariat (SECTUR). The first three cities to be named with this badge in the same year were Huasca de Ocampo in Hidalgo; Real de Catorce in San Luis Potosí; and Mexcaltitán in Nayarit. There are currently 131 locations with this designation, which help to structure routes, tourist products and tours in order not only to expand or improve the offer, but also to optimize it so that visitors can plan short trips with less time available.
How do you earn the Pueblo Magico badge?
Santa María del Río, San Luis Potosí / Image: Via México Desconocido
The requirements for a place or a city in order to receive this status are diverse and range from administrative to infrastructure to service offers.
- First, there must be an administrative area in the city devoted exclusively to tourism.
- Along with this area, there must be a Magic Town Committee that must develop and present a 5-year work program.
- On the infrastructure side, the city must have certain connectivity and access requirements, such as: B. Solid public transportation routes, health services and public safety.
- Have an easily accessible tourist information system.
- Present evidence of the city’s tourist attraction, including real estate, historical monuments, or natural attractions that can be considered unique, as well as an inventory of the city’s tourist service providers.
How is the appointment of Pueblo Mágico preserved?
Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí / Image: Via México Desconocido
The respected municipality must carry out the development of the work plan presented above, ensure that private and social investments are made in local tourism, and additionally demonstrate the growth of tourism activity and the positive impact on the living conditions of the residents of the said place.
Currently, Mexico has 131 magical cities across the country, 32 of which are under the six states (Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas) Central Western Pact for Tourism . That equates to 27% of the total magical cities in the country, a little over a quarter.
Recently, the six states launched the “Short Trips” campaign, with one of the main axes focused on promoting intra-regional road transport (due to proximity and connectivity) with magical cities being one of the most attractive options for travelers created by this campaign Routes or short breaks allow you to visit several of these attractions in one weekend.
Some of the most visited magical cities during their tour of the different states of the campaign are: Real de Catorce, Aquismón and Xilitla in San Luis Potosí; Jerez de García, Pinos and Sombrerete in Zacatecas; Mineral de Pozos, Dolores Hidalgo and Salvatierra in Guanajuato; Real de Asientos, Calvillo and San José de Gracia in Aguascalientes; Peña de Bernal, Cadereyta and Amealco in Querétaro; Tapalpa, Tlaquepaque and Lagos de Moreno in Jalisco. Here the tourist has the opportunity to enjoy the history, culture and gastronomy of every corner and get to know about 9 magical cities in a short vacation of no more than 4.5 hours of driving per day.
Would you like to learn more about these magical cities and the business opportunities they offer? We invite you to visit the web app of our sister site México Desconocido and fall in love with México.