Mahahual, Q.R. — Head of the Mahahual tourism association says the Othón P. Blanco City Council needs to address several issues with the arrival of holiday tourists.
Rodolfo Espadas Ixté says the town of Mahahual continues to suffer blackouts and now, major potholes due to flooded streets from the recent rains. The Vice President of the Association of tourism businessmen of the Greater Costa Maya expressed his concern now that visitors have begun to arrive for the holidays.
“If it’s not the blackouts, it’s the work they always do on days considered busy. There are four cruise ships and that generate sales and income for the rest of the week and they had to come and leave us all without power,” he said referring to the Wednesday CFE cut.
The power cut to change cables and transformers was made Wednesday, the day four cruise ships arrived at the port of Mahahual, leaving both residents and merchants without power.
“They do it without considering the effects that this has on us, but the worst thing is that they do it without prior notice and when we need them most, they don’t come,” he continued.
He says many have been forced to acquire energy plants to reduce the effects of the constant blackouts. He also expressed his concern regarding the image perceived by tourists when visiting the town for not being able to offer quality services due to the lack of electricity.
Espadas Ixté, the Vice Presidente de la Asociación de Empresarios de la Gran Costa Maya, also voiced his concern about Mahahual streets of potholes and a lack of lighting.
“Most of the streets are full of potholes and there is no public lighting in several areas, which is why it is necessary that the Othón P. Blanco City Council address this problem especially since visitors with reservations for the Christmas and New Year holidays have already begun to arrive,” he said.
“Overnight tourists are already arriving and this gives them have a very bad impression. The streets are in terrible condition and there are even many that do not even have public lighting.
“Visitors, when touring the town, walk in the dark and through mud and questions why Mahahual is in this condition, which is why we ask the municipal authorities to address this.
“It is not only to light the main avenue, but the entire town needs lighting and patching. There are those who on their own try to repair the streets but it is not enough.”