Mérida pulls out all the stops to celebrate Mexico’s largest tourism trade show
Mérida’s Centro was abuzz with activity as the city wrapped up its first day hosting the Tianguis Turístico Mexico, the nation’s largest tourism industry trade show.
Festivities included musical and folkloric performances in Paseo de Montejo’s Remate, as well as in Santa Ana Park.
Santa Ana Park also hosted what had been originally billed as an alternative Tianguis Turístico, but in the end, became a celebration of the tradeshow itself.
Both the Tianguis Turístico and evening events designed to complement it will continue until Friday evening.
Although foot traffic along Paseo de Montejo was fairly active, especially for a Tuesday night, most of the people out and about appeared to be locals, as trade show attendees seemed to be conspicuously absent.
Earlier: ‘Mayan ball game’ returns a new to Mérida’s Plaza Grande
Restaurants in the area appeared to be doing good business, but it was hard not to notice that social distancing norms and masking regulations were not being strictly adhered to.
Also particularly active was Mérida’s hotel zone, as the much-anticipated Tianguis Turístico brought with it a flurry of reservations.
Earlier reports stated that the Tianguis Turístico would be held on the premises of Yucatán’s new International Convention Center. However several activities and workshops have been spread out to other venues including the Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI and The Museo del Mundo Maya.
The Tianguis Turístico Mexico was originally slated to be hosted in late March 2020, but given the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, was pushed back to that fall, and then March, before it was postponed again until November 2021.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.
