Background on Cocula, Jalisco
Cocula, a town in Jalisco, Mexico, was designated as a “Pueblo Mágico” (Magical Town) in 2023 and is also known as the “Cuna Mundial del Mariachi” (World Birthplace of Mariachi). The town aims to strengthen its tourism as a key economic driver through strategic infrastructure projects, urban reorganization, and promotion.
Government-Funded Projects
The local authorities in Cocula have been working on projects funded by the Jalisco state government to address issues of congestion and disorder, aiming to boost tourism as an economic engine.
The Winning Project: Andador del Mariachi
Cocula participated in a state-level bidding process for projects that promote tourism. The winning project, the “Andador del Mariachi” (Mariachi Walkway), received a state budget of 10 million pesos. This project aims to reorganize and enhance commercial and cultural activities in the town center.
“The key is to make us work, not just to show up and ask for help,” said Luis Armando Aldana González, the mayor of Cocula. The project intends to relocate street vendors from the central plaza, which has become disorganized, and create an aesthetically pleasing and orderly space. The design includes musical notes on the ground, representing Cocula’s song, and guitarrón-shaped structures, an instrument native to the town, where mariachis can perform.
The walkway will improve the town’s urban appearance to attract more tourists and standardize commercial offerings around the plaza, supported by a municipal regulation already approved.
Challenges and Solutions
Cocula faces a disadvantage due to insufficient federal funding for Magical Towns, having received its designation only in 2023. The current administration has started working to meet the requirements set by the federal Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) for Pueblos Mágicos destinations.
They have already begun constructing a tourist information module and rehabilitating the central plaza’s kiosk, which are part of SECTUR’s requirements. Additionally, they have authorized the construction of a libramiento (beltroad) with four lanes and a central roundabout to address the town’s traffic congestion, which only has one main entrance and exit.
Additional Initiatives
In parallel, Cocula is executing the “Enchulemos Jalisco” program to intervene in all facades and paint the entrance, exit, and surroundings of the historic center.
Since becoming a Magical Town, Cocula has seen a 20% increase in tourist arrivals. Although international tourism remains low, the majority of visitors are locals from the United States and Canada who come to visit their hometown, especially during September’s patron saint festivals and the December season, which are crucial for the local economy.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Cocula’s goal? Cocula aims to strengthen its tourism as a key economic driver through strategic infrastructure projects, urban reorganization, and promotion.
- What is the Andador del Mariachi project? The Andador del Mariachi is a project that reorganizes and enhances commercial and cultural activities in Cocula’s town center, relocating vendors and creating an aesthetically pleasing space with musical elements.
- What challenges does Cocula face? Cocula faces a disadvantage due to insufficient federal funding for Magical Towns and must meet SECTUR requirements with limited resources.
- What additional initiatives is Cocula undertaking? Alongside the Andador del Mariachi, Cocula is executing the “Enchulemos Jalisco” program to improve the historic center’s appearance and has started meeting SECTUR requirements.
