Cancún Book Fair Thrives Without Government Support, Organizers Say

Cancún, Quintana Roo — The fourth edition of the Cancún International Book Fair has opened with national and international speakers, expecting to draw over 4,000 attendees—all achieved through community efforts without government support.

Pablo Martínez Flores, director of the civil association “Center for Support of Indigenous Migrants of Quintana Roo” and organizer of the event, said attendance has grown with each edition. This year’s fair features speakers from Chile, Argentina, Cuba, Guadalajara, Chihuahua, Mexico City, and other regions.

The activist noted the event operates solely on private contributions, adding that the local government created its own book fair, which was unsuccessful.

“Last year they held a fair and even called it FILC, like ours, but with the C for Caribbean instead of Cancún,” he recalled. “They had a large budget, but theirs drew few people and very few participants in terms of speakers and publishers.”

In his view, Cancún has a large literate population of educators, professionals, and students, giving it strong potential for its book fair to grow and become a reference point like those in other cities.

“The Guadalajara International Book Fair started at a moderate size, though with funding and the work of the University of Guadalajara’s rector; the Mérida FIL started small—I attended the first editions,” he commented. “Also at Minería in Mexico City, though the venue is beautiful, few people went initially, but after many years they’re now established.”

The FILC began on April 20 and runs through Sunday, April 26, at Hotel Plaza Caribe (opposite the ADO bus terminal). It features three spaces: an exhibition hall, a conference room, and an area for educational activities.

“The entire event is free admission, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; there will always be a chance to meet a writer or a publisher; we plan to give away books,” he concluded. “There are conferences on reading comprehension, study habits, and learning dynamics. It will be very useful for teachers and students.”