La Cuenta RegreZIHva

How do you diversify the economy away from a tourist destination with a nice climate on the ocean especially from November to April? I think about towns that are known for something. There are several on the way to Morelia. Santa Clara de Cobre, Quiroga and Tzintzuntzan. Copper, furniture and stone carvers with a small archaeological site to visit. These are more about an abundance of copper, forest products and sandstone with towns that have created an industry for generations around transforming nearby natural resources into finished products they are known for and people will buy.

Oaxaca has some of this. They have ruins and many species of wild agaves that they turn into mezcal. However, it has a reputation for being a foodie capital with many great restaurants. There are galleries with beautiful alebrijes made locally. There are artisans making rugs and bedspreads on looms in their stores, but it's not like there are a lot of sheep and cotton growing in the area. There is diverse local production that benefits the economy, not all resource based.

As a tourist in Oaxaca, I wanted to try nicer, more expensive restaurants and bought more items that were made there. Merchants that have ubiquitous stuff made somewhere else just doesn't get my wallet out. Being a seasonal resident in Ixtapa, I do take advantage of price differentials compared to the US. That means professional services like dental work, medical checkups and prescriptions for the offseason that are often 20% of the cost in the US. I don't see medical tourism as a significant growth opportunity for Zihuatanejo. For something beyond the basics, I'll go to Morelia or Mexico City.

I lived in several communities in Florida that did so, including Sarasota and Bradenton. So that when tourists don't come, for whatever reason, there are still jobs, and families continue to have incomes. It all starts with good infrastructure, especially roads so that goods can easily come and go, and public safety so that businesses aren't getting extorted and their workers aren't getting robbed.