Puerto Vallarta is one of the hottest destinations for the LGBTQ community. It is Mexico's top LGBTQ destination, attracting travellers from Canada, the U.S. and beyond, who are attracted to the bustling gay beach and beach clubs, the charm of Puerto Vallarta's gayborhood, La Zona Romantica (The Romantic Zone), the safe, tolerant environment, and the nightlife. Ohhhhh the nightlife.
And so as Puerto Vallarta continues to grow in popularity, so too does the city's LGBTQ community and spirit. Puerto Vallarta's fifth annual Pride celebration - Vallarta Pride - broke attendance records last week and for the first time, a sitting Mayor walked the parade.
Vallarta Pride is a week-long celebration of the LGBTQ community, this year held from May 21 to 28, 2017, with events mainly taking place across Zona Romantica, the epicentre of the LGBTQ community in Puerto Vallarta. Events included pool and circuit parties with international DJs, film screenings, a health fair, and returning favourites like Pulpito's Drag Derby and the traditional Pride Parade.
Puerto Vallarta Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña became the first mayor of Puerto Vallarta to join the parade and he was joined by his wife, Candelaria Tovar de Dávalos; and City Councillors Susana Rodríguez, Edelmira Orizaga and Eduardo Martínez. Puerto Vallarta city and tourism police officers also marched.
PHOTO: Puerto Vallarta Mayor Arturo Dávalos Peña, alongside his wife, Candelaria Tovar de Dávalos, and City Councillors Susana Rodríguez, Edelmira Orizaga and Eduardo Martínez. (Photo courtesy of Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board)
The parade, which took place on Wednesday, May 24, began at Hotel Sheraton Buganvilias and continued over the Malecón, concluding on Lázaro Cárdenas street, where the party continued until dawn. Puerto Vallarta bars Fiesta Bar, La Noche, Mr. Flamingo, Los Muertos Brewing, CC Slaughters and La Margarita came together to host the Block Party, a dance party attended by over 7,000 people which featured pounding beats, multicolor lights, go-go dancers and fireworks, all on the cobblestone streets of Zona Romantica
Other neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta joined the celebration with hotels across the city making their LGBTQ patrons feel welcomed with various initiatives. The Marriott Casa Magna bathed its entrance in colors of the rainbow; Hotel Puerto de Luna placed rainbow flags around its perimeter with a Welcome to Vallarta Pride sign as an accent piece, and Costa Sur Resort and Spa which hosted a delegation of LGBT media from around the world.
Prior to the celebration of Vallarta Pride, Puerto Vallarta had started pride season with multiple initiatives across the city including the opening of a Gender Equality Office, with Mayor Peña saying at the time "Puerto Vallarta is today a city where we consider as primordial interest the respect for differences through a dignified, respectful and equal treatment for all people regardless of nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.".
Hoteliers, business owners and tourism operators were also given the opportunity to take a certification course from SECTUR (La Secretaría de Turismo or Tourism Secretary) to help to develop and promote strategies to diversify Puerto Vallarta's LGBTQ tourism product
In 2016 Mexico attracted 2.9 million LGBT tourists, with an economic impact of $765 dollars per person, which is higher than 60 per cent of other types of tourists. It represents 10 per cent of Mexico's international tourism while in Puerto Vallarta, the percentage is estimated to be between 15-20 per cent
Puerto Vallarta was Mexico's first IGLTA member in 2014, and was also honoured as the first city in Mexico to be granted Gay Travel Approved status by GayTravel.com. It also received International LGBTQ Destination recognition at Travalliance Media's annual Travvy Awards 2017.
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