From the Publisher's Desk July / August 2003

From the Publisher's Desk

Tourism, anywhere in the world, is fueled by information and advertising. In the baseball movie Field of Dreams, main character Ray Kinsella believed “if you build it, they will come.” In Mazatlán´s case, we believe “if you advertise it, they will come.”

Those of us who live full and part-time in Mazatlán know not only its physical charms (the beach, Old Town, markets, monuments), but also the lively cultural, community and sporting life the city supports. Until recently, information on local events reached the public sporadically, or not at all.

In April, a group of Mazatleco volunteers, spearheaded by Lic. Sylvia Treviño Salinas of A Ser Familia A.C. and assisted by the Coordination General de Turismo de Sinaloa, met. Their aim was to produce a monthly poster of events taking place in Mazatlán. To their surprise, they found a myriad of happenings in the community which had never been publicized. Their first poster was released in Spanish on May 1st with a printing of 200 copies.

In mid-May, the committee, now named “Comité de Difusion para Eventos Especiales en Maz-atlán,” invited the Pacific Pearl to become a member. They saw the need to print the poster in both Spanish and English and asked for our translating input. The Pearl translated the June poster, which is now displayed in 500 Mazatlán locations, on the Pearl and several other community organization websites. The plan is to place the posters in international consulates and embassies, tourism offices and travel agencies.

The Pearl is proud to be a member of this committee. We think it is a worthwhile project with enormous benefits for tourism and our community. The volunteer committee has proven the old adage of “where there´s a will, there´s a way.”

Michael J. Veselik

Publisher