From the Publisher's Desk
When Will We Learn?
On the occasion of our 15th anniversary of publishing the Pacific Pearl Magazine, I want to thank our advertisers, readers, supporters and staff for keeping us in the Number 1 spot for English language tourists and residents. Fifteen years is a long time to be on top, especially for a foreigner doing business in Mazatlán.
As pioneers, it has not been an easy road. We were instrumental in opening doors for the foundation of local organizations, clubs, orphanages and events. Along the way we fought nay-sayers and discrimination. As a top Mazatlán businessman said to me one day, “Isn´t it nice that I let you stay and make money in my country?”
 
It´s tough to do business in Mazatlán. Over the years we have waded through paperwork demands from different government offices and businesses. We have tried numerous times to enlist advertising support for the Pearl from local and state government tourist departments, which advertise regularly in many other Mazatlán publications. Despite the fact that we publish more copies and distribute in more destinations (170 to be exact) than any other city magazine, the government continues to shut us out.
 
When my Mexicans friends ask me why we don´t have more English speaking tourists in Mazatlán, I tell them it´s because the government tourist offices, and most top local tourism businesses, have not learned to respect visitors. Respect means a tourist is entitled to information, protection, representation and personal safety. You cannot expect a tourist to choose to spend their vacation in a city where these fundamentals are not available. Years of complaints by tourists of police shakedowns (in my opinion, cops need a pay raise), dangerous sidewalks, garbage strewn streets and beaches, and non-existent tourist booths (which are commonplace in other Mexican cities) still have not been addressed by government bodies. Of growing concern, too, is the non-regulation of inexperienced and fly-by-night real estate agents who are causing grief to unsuspecting buyers.
 
With respect to readily available tourism information, recently two hotels in Mazatlán refused to distribute the Pacific Pearl in their lobbies. The Pueblo Bonito hotels attempted to dictate what to include in our magazine which, as an independent paper, we cannot allow. El Cid removed Pearl copies stating our advertisers conflict with their sales. We have documented evidence of both these occurrences and hope that one day they can be resolved.
If these respected tourism-based hotels would direct their energies into prodding the government to learn to respect tourists, rather than picking a fight in their own backyard, it may go far in recapturing tourist dollars that are heading for Costa Rica, Panama, even Nicaragua. Their governments are working hard to meet tourists´ requirements. When will we learn?
Michael J. Veselik
Publisher