From the desk of Armando Contreras
As many of you know, we recently conducted a survey to gauge the 2020 High Season in Riviera Nayarit.
The survey to be blunt said that High Season 2020 will be a BUST.
Given the reduced numbers of guests here on the ground and the continued health risks that we are facing, we at Galvan have made the painful decision not to have nor to promote any of our external events this year.
This applies to The Tianguis, Annual Taste of Lo de Marcos, Chili Cookoff, and even the high spirited High Season dinners at Casa Galvan.
Since we opened the doors at Galvan almost 7 years ago, our intention of the events we produce was to raise awareness of Lo de Marcos and to provide the Residents of Lo de Marcos with support both financially and creatively.
We hope and plan on being able to bring all of these events back to town for the 2021 season.
This is what was shared from Amigos de Lo de Marcos.
Amigos de Lo de Marcos has a long history of supporting the community and providing an opportunity for regular visitors and residents to contribute to the life and health of the community.
As President of the Amigos de Lo de Marcos, and on behalf of the Board of Directors (Mesa Directiva), I am writing to you to provide you with an update on the situation in the village. The goal is to provide, to the best of our ability, a sense of the role that Amigos de Lo de Marcos can/needs to take over the next year.
Lo de Marcos is part of the Municipality of Bahia de Banderas in the State of Nayarit, and the status of the Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico is unclear. Accurate information is hard to get and we can only really comment on what we see in Lo de Marcos. Various levels of Government have each implemented specific measures to limit the spread of Covid 19, and here in Lo de Marcos we have had very few confirmed cases.
However, those initiatives to prevent the spread of Covid 19 have had an impact on the economy of the community. Tourism, both winter season snowbirds and year round domestic tourists, is a major part of the annual income for the families here in Lo de Marcos. Tourism has dropped by 90% since March 2020. There are NOT any governmental economic support programs to communities that have been affected by Covid 19. This community is in economic crisis and the outlook for the next few years is very uncertain.
At present, the schools are closed and we do not know when they will be reopened. Some students are able to continue part of their education online, however the shortage of computers and internet access continues to be problematic for many families.
Business leaders in Lo de Marcos are working on a 2 year recovery plan. The first step is to inventory and assess the resources available to the community. Amigos de Lo de Marcos has been asked to support the community and the recovery plan.
Amigos de Lo de Marcos also needs to assess the situation and to make some flexible plans for the next 2 seasons.
- The forecast for tourism, especially for the 2020-2021 season, indicates that many of our regular members will probably not be coming to Lo de Marcos this year. This is driven by a number of factors, including governmental Travel Advisories, cost of Health/Travel Insurance and availability of direct flights to Puerto Vallarta.
- There is a very high probability that Amigos will not be able to operate their annual fund raisers, including the February Fiesta. Many other community events and fundraisers have already been cancelled for the upcoming season in Lo de Marcos. We will need to look at other, more virtual ways, to raise funds for 2020-2021.
- The probability of having sufficient members available (quorums) for in-person meetings this season is low. The Constitution of our Association does not address a unique situation like a global pandemic, so we will have to be somewhat creative in our decision making processes and our communications with members.
- Amigos de Lo de Marcos needs to conserve existing resources (funds) and prioritize how we spend those funds based on the needs of the community.
Over the next weeks and months, the Board of Directors (Mesa Directiva) will be meeting virtually to discuss and assess the changing situation in Lo de Marcos. Discussions will also be held with the Chairpersons of the various committees. At this time, I ask for your patience and support.
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If you are a Business Owner in town who has an interest in learning more about how we can survive this crisis together, please stop in at the Galvan Office and ask for an Application. Please share this information with other business owners in town.
Note, the front door is closed but we are usually inside, so please knock.
Or for details call me on my cell at 322 120 0655.
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The beach is still legally off-limits although residents and small groups of visitors have been spotted and it seems if they are following social distancing guidelines they are not bothered and allowed to stay.
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Speaking individually as Galvan Real Estate and collectively as part of the very fabric of life here in Lo de Marcos, I hope for eventual recovery and return to normal. With decreased tourism levels, the responsibility for our community’s success lies in the hands of the town’s business owners and our supporters.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me.
I’m sending each of you a virtual hug! Can you feel it?
Regards,
Armando Contreras
Galvan Real Estate and Services
Presidente Amigos de Lo de Marcos
