Fernando Olivera Rocha, head of the Guanajuato’s Secretariat of Tourism, declared on Wednesday May 10th: “We are planning to build a new International Airport in San Miguel de Allende aiming to receive more premium tourism and to position SMA as world-class luxury wedding destination”.
The project aims to convert the current aerodrome into an airport, extending the track to 2,000 meters in length with hydraulic concrete; turning it into an air terminal capable to receive aircrafts with capacity of up to 48 passengers, with a flight range of up to four hours.
In an interview with Mexico City based newspaper “El Universal”, the state official underlined: “San Miguel de Allende is currently positioned as a tourist destination for a high purchasing power market. We also have recognized the great advantage that private aviation could give to our city in terms of tourism. Therefore, instead of mass tourism, we have decided to attract a much more “selective” sector, which will pay good rates, and leave a greater economic benefit for the people of SMA and the rest of our state”.
“The airport project will require a total investment of $300 million pesos ($15 million USD) and it is expected to start operations in December this year”.
Olivera Rocha added that this project seeks to continue positioning San Miguel de Allende as a world-class luxury travel and high-end wedding destination.
“Last year, 720 weddings took place in San Miguel de Allende, 30% of which, were foreign couples who decided to get married in our lovely town”, Olivera Rocha said.
Then he explained: “The new airport will allow tourists to arrive directly to our destination, either by air taxis or using their own private planes, in direct flights from different Mexican cities or southern United States”.
“With this new airport we are not thinking to boost mass tourism, as the length of the runway limits the size of the aircrafts. Instead, we are looking to offer quality services that are demanded by San Miguel’s current tourism sector,” said the Tourism Secretary.
“San Miguel de Allende is today a Premium tourist destination with travel facilities where we can charge up to a thousand dollars a night, because the high-profile visitors that travel to our hometown perceive the quality and value offered,” he concluded.
Source: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/