Vallarta Pride expected to leave big economic impact

The so-called “pink money” will flow from the Romantic Zone to the entire region. The economic benefits of the Pride Puerto Vallarta festival, to be held May 20-28, are abundant, as LGBTQ attendees spend more than other types of travelers; they tend to go out and consume in a variety of businesses in the Emiliano Zapata neighborhood and other areas.

This was stated by Daniel Estrada Jiménez, president of the Colectivo Vallarta LGBT, who has worked for the past twelve years as the event coordinator at the Blue Chairs Hotel, which caters to this tourist segment.

“It is a tradition that the Pride is attended by couples, groups of friends and also single travelers who socialize in the large number of events that take place and spend in many businesses in this area”.

Regarding the profile of the event’s attendees, Daniel Estrada commented that most are foreigners, as they have a higher purchasing power to travel at any time of the year and spend in more businesses, leaving bigger tips.

“Tourists are mainly Americans and to a lesser extent Canadians who stay here between five and seven days or more.”

The LGBT community representative stressed that the economic impact of Pride is widespread, reaching a wide range of tourism businesses.

Pride, now in its tenth year, has become a reference event for the LGBT segment, and this year includes the Pride Parade, conferences, a fashion show, a beauty pageant, a high heels race, as well as a street party and lots of fun in various locations around the port.

With reporting by Rodrigo López Becerril for Tribuna de la Bahía