MAZATLÁN, SINALOA — Despite government assurances that tourism remains stable in the coastal city, escalating regional violence has forced the permanent closure of six more businesses along the prominent Playa Gaviotas corridor in the Golden Zone (Zona Dorada).
The closures, which took place in May, primarily affected restaurants, jewelry stores, and beachwear and souvenir shops. Local merchants report that while international cruise ships and weekend visitors offer temporary relief, the persistent drop in weekday foot traffic and nightlife has made long-term survival impossible.
Ernesto López, a local beachwear shop manager, explained that businesses have been struggling to stay afloat since September 2024. He noted that many shop owners have finally reached a breaking point, exhausted by plummeting sales, rising commercial rents, and high electricity bills.
Behind the shuttered doors and “For Rent” signs lie family projects crushed by fear, financial strain, and low consumer confidence. Merchants expressed frustration over the lack of government contingency plans or tax relief, warning that the suffocating economic reality continues to worsen as long as the state’s security crisis remains unresolved.
Source: OEM
