Yucatán Pauses New Magic Towns Expansion

Yucatán, Mexico — The Secretary of Tourism for Yucatán (Sefotur), Darío Flota Ocampo, has ruled out the possibility of the state adding new localities to the federal Magic Towns program in the short term.

Since 2023, Yucatán has been home to seven Magic Towns: Izamal, Valladolid, Maní, Sisal, Motul, Espita, and Tekax. These towns have established themselves as destinations with cultural identity, historical wealth, and natural attractions.

Despite interest from other municipalities in obtaining the distinction, the official confirmed there are no immediate plans to open new applications.

Why More Magic Towns in Yucatán Are Not Being Added

Darío Flota explained that, so far, the federal Secretary of Tourism (Sectur) has not announced a new call to integrate more municipalities into the program. Consequently, there are no administrative conditions for Yucatán or other states to add localities in the short term.

He further detailed that one of the main challenges is that interested municipalities must meet requirements for infrastructure, connectivity, heritage conservation, and tourist services. This involves planning processes and resources that are not always immediately available.

"The SECTUR told us that they do not plan to name new Magic Towns; they are going to create a new designation for those focused on community tourism, and that is what we will work on," he stated.

How Tourism in Yucatán Will Be Strengthened Without New Magic Towns

The state official maintained that, even without adding new localities to the program, Yucatán will continue to push its tourism diversification strategy. This strategy is based on promoting experiences in nature, gastronomy, archaeology, and adventure.

He also highlighted that work will continue to reinforce air connectivity and cruise ship tourism, which are key factors for attracting more national and international visitors.

"We submitted the regulations for the Magic Towns to SECTUR and they had some observations. In November, we will be participating with them in Pachuca, Hidalgo, at the Magic Towns Tourism Fair," he said.

This confirms that for now, there will be no new Magic Towns in Yucatán, though the state maintains a range of tourism options that solidify its position as one of the country's most attractive destinations.

How Community Tourism Will Be Promoted

Finally, he indicated that in Yucatán there are around 64 destinations with potential for community tourism, and 14 are already listed in a catalog.

"We are working on it; they will soon take shape. The idea is to give more visibility to those communities," concluded the state official.