Mahahual Aims to Boost Cruise Ship Visits

Chetumal, Q. Roo. — The Administration Portuaria Integral de Quintana Roo (Apiqroo) is maintaining procedures to obtain an expansion of the Federal Concession Title currently held by the company Promociones Turísticas Mahahual, which has an authorized use permit valid until the year 2059.

Alicia Ricalde Magaña, director of Apiqroo, stated that there are known complaints from nautical service providers regarding the monopoly that exists in Mahahual. This year, the agency expects to obtain the signature for the "fifth addendum" from the Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT) concerning the expansion of the Federal Concession Title.

Currently, the use is authorized solely for the company of Teófilo Hamui Hilwani, since 2009, covering 705 square meters of the Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone (Zofemat).

This situation removes the possibility of receiving yachts or international passenger ships that make stops in the ports of the Mexican Caribbean, which could represent an economic spillover for the south of the state.

"Mahahual has no access, there is that complaint, there is concern that more economic spillover could reach the town, it is the tourism that the south needs. The president maintains a policy to open that type of port so that the spillover is for everyone," said the official.

In addition to that expansion, they also seek to have influence over the other pier in the community of Mahahual, as well as the one in Xcalak, which are concessioned to the Capitanía de Puerto.

"By having these expansions, it will be possible to build stations with water, electricity, fuel, and provisions services, so that those who are traveling can enjoy the vestiges; they stay for years. If we had these stops for the ships, we would have that economic trigger that has not been given," she commented.