They manage the return of commercial flights to the Tamuín airport

Supporting the “takeoff” of the Tamuín National Airport through negotiations with airlines to operate new routes and promoting meeting tourism in the State are some of the main objectives for the new Secretary of Tourism of San Luis Potosí, Aurora Mancilla Castro. .

The official, who just completed a month in office, recalled that the expansion and modernization of the airport is a joint project with the federal government to boost tourism in the Huasteca Potosina.

“What we as the Ministry of Tourism are going to support is generating new routes for that airport, that new airlines are interested in the Huasteca. We want tourists who arrive at that airport to see the variety of tourist offer, so we will also support hoteliers, restaurateurs, service providers and that they are the ones who capture the tourist flow that is generated through this airport,” said the official in interview

It should be remembered that the expansion of the Tamuín airport was one of the priority projects for the federal government; however, the works have been delayed. Said terminal is operated by Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) and has a 1.5 km runway (which is intended to be extended to 2.5 km).

The Secretary pointed out that commercial flights at said air terminal have been paused since the pandemic. In fact, they had barely returned in August 2019 and were operated solely by Aeromar; however, in June 2020 said airline announced the suspension due to the pandemic and low demand. At the moment, only charter flights and air taxis operate.

According to ASA statistics, from January to October of this 2022, 1,306 national passengers have arrived at the Tamuín airport. While in all of 2021 a figure of 1,547 passengers was recorded; in 2020, 2,135 and in 2019, 4,710 passengers.

Another commitment of the Secretariat is the generation of meeting and business tourism, for which they are also working to attract more congresses and conventions, “so that in this way all the tourist sectors benefit, and turn to see SLP as a destination due to its nature, its culture, its traditions”.

“The growth of tourism has accelerated a lot, it is no longer just domestic tourism, but it is international tourism. Measures continue to be implemented to attract more tourists. For example, “Xantolo en tu Ciudad”, which is a Huasteca festival but which has now been “brought” to the Downtown area”, highlighted Mancilla Castro.

karina.hernandez@eleconomista.mx