A positive holiday for Atacames
Atacames is a popular tourist destination that recently received visitors from the Sierra and Colombia during the holiday
A weekend in Atacames
Despite some obstacles along the way, such as the lack of a bridge over the Blanco River and damage to the Ibarra-San Lorenzo and Quinindé-Esmeraldas roads, these visitors enjoyed an unforgettable weekend in Atacames.
The challenges of the road
Despite the joy of the journey, some visitors encountered difficulties along the way. In particular, those who came from Valle del Cauca in Colombia complained about the poor condition of several sections of the Ibarra-San Lorenzo highway.
“The state of the road was an obstacle, but it did not diminish our enthusiasm for reaching Atacames,” said one Colombian visitor.
The tourism sector of Atacames
Despite the challenges, the Atacames hotel sector recorded an occupancy of close to 50% in the resort’s 400 hotels during the holiday. Eddy Gómez, local president of the Chamber of Tourism, described the holiday as significant for the sector.
Activities at the spa
During the holiday, visitors enjoyed a variety of activities at the spa. In Las Palmas, there was an entrepreneurs’ fair, a festive barbecue and a musical concert on Saturday.
The other spas
In addition to Atacames and Las Palmas, other resorts also received a large number of visitors. The resorts of Las Peñas, El Rompido, Limones and Canchimalero were filled with tourists who joined the procession of San Martín de Porres.
Safety during the holiday
Visitor safety was a priority during the holiday. According to Julio Vásquez, commander of Police Subzone 8, the presence of tourists was significant, but no incidents were reported at the mass gathering sites.
Police reinforcement
To guarantee security, police personnel from Carchi and Imbabura were assigned to the northern and border areas of Esmeraldas.
“The safety of our visitors is our main concern,” said Commander Vásquez.
The importance of tourism for Atacames
Tourism is vital to the economy of Atacames, and holidays are an opportunity to attract visitors from all over the country and Colombia. Despite the challenges on the roads and the lack of Quito-Esmeraldas air flights, the Atacames tourism sector continues to thrive.
Improving infrastructure
To continue attracting tourists, it is necessary to improve the region’s infrastructure. This includes the construction of a bridge over the Blanco River and the repair of the Ibarra-San Lorenzo and Quinindé-Esmeraldas roads. (JNG)