Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – At 10:50 this morning, protesters closed Francisco Medina Asensio in the South-North direction, due to the protests against the responsible verification center.
The blockage disrupts tourists who need to arrive at the airport for departures today.
Members of the Citizen Security Commission of the Municipality of Puerto Vallarta stationed themselves at different points on Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue, such as a convenience store located in the Villa de las Flores neighborhood, prior to protests.
The Bahía de Banderas Tourism Department has activated the first phase of the Tourist Support Plan at 11:00 this Friday, due to the closure of Highway 200 in Puerto Vallarta, so that tourists in Nuevo Vallarta can be transported to the airport by boat.
At noon, state police arrived with equipment to remove protestors’ cars blocking the street and have opened at least one lane of traffic as of 12:15 PM. The arrival of state police caused moments of tension with city police when there was a confrontation with the Deputy Director of Police in Puerto Vallarta.
12:30 – Protestors attempted to take over Francisco Medina Asensio but were forced back by riot police who are attempting to keep at least one north lane open.
12:50 – Protestors say they have the endurance to stay all day and doubt the police commitment. “Let’s see who gets tired first”
1:30 – We have not confirmed an exact number, but what we know now is that several protestors have been arrested so far today.
2:00 – City Council asks police to show restraint and do not push the demonstration into violence and reminded police that they are the only people armed at the protest.
2:30 – Protestors block access to the convention center.
3:50 – Road closure from protest is expected to continue until 6:00 PM local time
4:20 – Protestors have ended the blockade but have promised to return to the streets in the coming days, and more, as long as vehicle inspections continue.
According to Susana Rodríguez Mejía, a representative of the state government, the previous protest on March 31 caused significant disruptions to air travel. The protest and road blockade on Puerto Vallarta’s most important highway resulted in the cancellation of 32 flights and affected more than 600 people. The Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), which operates the airport terminal, provided data to support these claims.
Mejía explained that 682 tourists were unable to reach their flights due to the blockade, which also caused the cancellation of 32 flights. She expressed concern about the impact of these disruptions on the tourism industry, saying that international certifications are needed to attract more visitors. The cancellations and delays caused additional expenses and inconvenience for passengers, including those traveling on domestic Volaris flights.
Mejía emphasized that the negative experiences of affected passengers could have a lasting impact on the reputation of the destination. Overall, the anti-verification blockade had significant consequences for air travel and the tourism industry in the affected area.
The government claims the protests against a new law requiring emissions tests for cars were fueled by mechanics who used the previous verification system for corruption by selling verification stickers to car owners without giving the proper inspections. The government claims these mechanics who used the old verification system to benefit themselves spread misinformation to the public to create protests in hopes of changing back to the previous system that was easier to manipulate and line the pockets of dishonest auto mechanics.
Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) - At 10:50 this morning, protesters closed Francisco Medina Asensio in the South-North direction, due to the protests against the responsible . . .
