The Southern Zone - The Essence of Puerto Vallarta
An Interview with Norma Alicia Lynn |
By Jesus de Avila – August 2007
|
In the Southern and Romantic Zone of our city, as part of a rescue and promotion program for the area, diverse artistic and cultural events were carried out during this past month of July. The people responsible for such an initiative are a group of businessmen dedicated to tourism  who are committed to contributing to preserving the Southern Zone as it was during the origins of this port. It is the place with most of the history and tradition, offering our visitors a colorful range of activities to
participate in, as well as points of interest for visiting and enjoying, amongst which we have, just to mention a few: the Island of the Cuale River, the old pier on Los Muertos beach, the National Park of los Arcos, Mismaloya, Boca de Tomatlan, Las Juntas y Los Veranos, the beaches of Quimixto, Majahuitas, Las Animas and Yelapa, considered among others to be the most beautiful ones of the city.
After attending the spectacular presentation of the Xiutla ballet interpreting their most recent production "El Bolero Ravel", I realized that the effort carried out by the South Group is huge and highly committed and with this in mind I decided to interview their chief representative, Mrs. Norma Alicia Lynn.
Question: What is South Group?
Answer: The South Group is a committee of business and tourist providers of the Southern Zone with the objective to rescue and promote this area of Puerto Vallarta. The Southern Zone is our essence, it is here where Puerto Vallarta was born and it is here where our history is.
The program of the South Group ranges from the Basilio Badillo street to Las Juntas y los Veranos and by the way for the first stage of our program we started from Basilio Badillo up to Mismaloya, and for the second, which will begin very shortly, we will also include las Juntas y los Veranos.
 Question: When you say to rescue a tone of nostalgia can be perceived. What is it that has to be rescued?
Answer: Well, I guess there is a bit of nostalgia. We are a destination where everything depends on tourism, and our working life depends on tourists and based on this there are some areas in the region that have not received the same attention as other areas. Little by little less new tourists are informed that our port was born in the Southern Zone and that it is here where the authentic Vallarta flavor is still alive which most of
our visitors fall in love with. Just to mention one important piece of information: more than seventy percent of all boat and ecological excursions of the whole of Banderas Bay take place in the Southern Zone.
Question: Whose idea was it to form the South Group and who is participating?
Answer: It was my idea and among the present participants we have: the Barcelo Hotels, the hotel President Intercontinental, Tropicana, San Marino, as well as the restaurants El Dorado, Asaderos and Cardos. Basically they are the founding member of the club and working with them and for the Southern Zone has turned into something we are enjoying tremendously. In a few weeks we will be able to report on who the new members are.
As the South Group we have been working approximately since September of last year, and we started with the club of providers on November 1st. On January 5th of this year we presented our visual image of the Southern Zone as a  destination and from then on we have been advancing firmly. At present we have received an official recognition for our efforts in the Southern Zone by the State Secretary of Tourism, the City Hall's Department of Art and Culture, the local Mayor and the Tourism Trust. In addition to being wonderful this gives us faith that it is possible to work together for the benefit of the destination. We promote the Southern Zone as a whole, uniting the links of each one of the providers. The South Group does not promote single businesses, we promote the whole Southern Zone.
It is important and necessary that locals and visitors know that the Southern Zone besides being the place where Puerto Vallarta was born has and offers all kinds of first class tourist services. The Southern Zone is the pillar of our city and as such we work together to conserve it. At present seventy per cent of all day excursions that exist in our destination, such as the visit to islands in the open sea, mountain excursions, practice of canopy and bungee-jumping, visits to the zoological and botanical garden
are, among others, exclusive activities of the Southern Zone.
To go to the Southern Zone, visiting and enjoying it, represents the opportunity to truly experience the essence and splendor of Puerto Vallarta.
Thanks Norma Alicia Lynn for the opportunity of this interview.
Jesús de Avila.
E-mail: editor@pvmirror.com
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