Cancún’s Digital Push to Boost Mexico’s Magical Towns

Cancún, Mexico — The promotion of the 177 Magical Towns across Mexico will enter the digital age through a new platform designed to showcase these destinations and share visitor experiences, aiming to boost their international appeal. The initiative is one of the first actions led by the newly appointed president of the National Network of Mayors, José Alfredo Contreras Méndez, the municipal president of Bacalar.

A Digital Gateway for Tourism

The project seeks to provide lesser-resourced towns with access to promotional channels that can highlight their attractions to key tourism markets. Many of these towns currently lack the financial means to market themselves effectively. Among the destinations included are the Magical Towns of the Yucatán Peninsula.

José Alfredo Contreras Méndez, who recently assumed leadership of the network, emphasized the importance of elevating these locations. "The goal is to dignify these diverse points and present them to the world," he stated. Bacalar, a Quintana Roo destination renowned for its Seven Colors Lagoon, has held Magical Town status for 19 years.

Federal Support and Funding Strategies

Contreras Méndez confirmed that he has the backing of Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez, to whom he will present the project in hopes of securing budgetary support. He also revealed that alternative funding avenues are being explored, including contributions from municipal governments, supplemented by federal assistance where possible.

The needs of each town vary significantly—some require only minor improvements, such as repainting facades, while others need substantial infrastructure investments.

A Shift in Federal Funding

The initiative comes after federal funding for the Magical Towns program was halted in 2019. During the previous federal administration, the Program for Sustainable Regional Tourism Development and Magical Towns (Prodermágico) was discontinued. In its final year, the program had a budget of 581 million pesos.

Although the Magical Towns program continued, it operated under a new model that shifted financial responsibility to private banking institutions, leaving municipalities to manage debt independently.

The digital platform represents a renewed effort to revitalize these culturally and historically significant destinations, ensuring their visibility in an increasingly competitive tourism market.