Mérida, Yucatán — Archaeological zones that charge admission saw increased revenue in 2017.
Combined, they took in 310 million pesos (15.7 million USD) which is about 4 million pesos (203,000 USD) more than last year.
The totals track with record tourism numbers that state and city recently announced.
And it comes despite the state allowing Yucatecan residents free admission to sites such as Uxmal and Chichén Itzá in 2017.
By Nov. 30, INAH counted 3.3 million tourists, compared with just under 3 million in the same time frame in 2016. The majority of them, more than 1.7 million, were foreign tourists. That is striking because most tourism in Yucatán consists of nationals.
Through the first week of December, 3.6 million tourists stayed in hotels connected to the archaeological sites, roughy level with the previous year’s total.
Paradores at Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, X’Kekén, Ek Balam and Dzibilchaltún were the busiest.
The state runs paradores at the main archaeological zones as well as some at various cenotes and beaches, such as “El Corchito” in Progreso, the Ría de Celestún and X’Kekén.
With information from Patronato Cultur
