Chetumal, Q.R. — Authorities say they are hoping to be able to inaugurate the ruins of Ichkabal at the same time as the Maya Train.
The National Fund for Tourism Promotion, along with the Ministry of Culture and the National Institute of Anthropology and History, have signed collaboration agreements in relation to the Maya Train, which if executed, will trigger economic and cultural benefits for the south of the state.
Diego Prieto Hernández, general director of el Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Historia (INAH), says that mapping the archaeological zone of Ichkabal is the first step to opening the Mayan city at the same time as the inauguration of the Maya Train.
He says the train will travel through five states that have more than 50 archaeological zones open to the public, many of which, he acknowledged, should be improved in anticipation of the increase in visitors.
He estimated that parallel to the start of operations of the Maya Train, which is scheduled for 2023, the institute could open three more archaeological zones, which are in the process of consideration.
The National Coordinator of Archeology of the INAH, Pedro Francisco Sanchez Nava, said that along the train route they have counted 1,709 archaeological sites, which includes 26 zones open to the public, 20 zones that are not officially open, but that are visited by tourism and 24 cenotes of archaeological culture.
The Maya Train will also connect with two Historic Monuments Zones and 10 museums run by INAH.
