Agreement near to ban street vendors from Chichén Itzá

CHICHÉN ITZÁ, Yucatan — According to the Reporteros Hoy web page, Yucatan’s state government would soon announce a lobbying agreement with tourism service providers to evict street vendors, who have been occupying the archaeological zone of Chichen Itza for more than a decade.

Government and entrepreneurial sources confirmed that Gov. Rolando Zapata’s administration has established a mechanism to ban more than 600 vendors. The sources consulted indicated that everything is ready to remove the “artisans” from the place, who for more than 10 years have invaded and even partially blocked access areas. An agreement was made with the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), which is responsible for the archaeological zone, in regards of the total withdrawal of street vendors and their possible relocation outside the archaeological zone.

In repeated occasions, the touristic sector has complained to the state and federal authorities about the lack of interest in the street vendors’ conditions and the problems they cause to tourists. Therefore, those who have been reported for harassment, price abuse and material fraud (which are sold as silver while being made from a different material), will be relocated as well.

The archaeological zone of Chichen Itza, considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world, welcomes more than two million visitors annually and leaves a considerable economic impact for both the state and federal government. However, the municipality of Tinum, where this archaeological site is located, barely receives any. Moreover, among the accords made with the state government, it was considered the construction of a new tourist hostel, since the current one is insufficient as the number of tourists who visit this site has surpassed the capacity and security measures.

SOURCE: Reporteros Hoy