Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In a strategic move to boost tourism directly to Nayarit, the state government has formed alliances with major American sports teams, including the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. The initiative aims to attract tourists from California and Texas, reducing Nayarit’s dependency on the Puerto Vallarta Airport in Jalisco for its influx of visitors.
Juan Enrique Suárez Real del Tostado, Secretary of Tourism for Nayarit, announced the state’s ambitious plan to establish direct flights to the Tepic International Airport. “Currently, 60 percent of the traffic that arrives in Puerto Vallarta heads to the Riviera Nayarit. With these alliances, we are looking for more tourists to arrive directly in Nayarit,” he said in an interview.
This year marks a significant milestone for the Tepic Airport as it completes its extensive renovation and expansion. The project, funded through a public-private investment of 4.1 billion pesos, includes expanding the runway to 3,100 meters, adding an annex building, and constructing and equipping a new 42-meter-high control tower. The upgraded airport will have the capacity to serve 4 million passengers annually.
Travelers will benefit from convenient transportation options once they arrive in Tepic. “People will travel 50 minutes to get to the coast from Tepic; we will have free transportation,” Suárez Real del Tostado explained. The state is also negotiating with major airlines such as Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines to establish new flight routes to Nayarit.
The Secretary of Tourism expects the first tangible results of these alliances to be seen by 2025. While he did not disclose the financial details of the sponsorship agreements with the Lakers and Cowboys, he mentioned that the investment involved several thousand dollars. The sponsorship allows Nayarit to promote its brand during the games of both franchises.
The process to secure these partnerships was thorough and data-driven. “We had to send the teams all the statistics of Nayarit, including our security measures, connectivity, community benefits, and social issues. When we showed all the statistics, we achieved it,” Suárez Real del Tostado stated.
These alliances are part of Nayarit’s broader strategy to enhance its tourism sector and establish the Tepic International Airport as a major entry point for visitors. By targeting fans of the Lakers and Cowboys, the state aims to tap into a vast and enthusiastic audience from two of the largest states in the U.S.
Nayarit’s government is optimistic that these efforts will significantly increase tourist arrivals and stimulate economic growth in the region. The Secretary of Tourism emphasized the importance of these partnerships in showcasing Nayarit’s unique attractions and fostering a more direct connection with international travelers.
As the Tepic Airport’s renovation nears completion and the new flight routes are established, Nayarit is poised to become a more accessible and attractive destination for tourists. The state’s collaboration with prominent American sports teams is a testament to its proactive approach to tourism development and its commitment to enhancing the visitor experience.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - In a strategic move to boost tourism directly to Nayarit, the state government has formed alliances with major American sports teams, including the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers and the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. The initiative aims to attract tourists from California and Texas, reducing Nayarit's dependency on the Puerto Vallarta Airport in Jalisco for its influx of visitors.
