Press Reports on Support for the Mayan Train
Recent news reports have pointed out criticism of the Mayan Train as an unnecessary infrastructure project that should be suspended in order to address more pressing needs caused by COVID-19. Last week, however, the press reported on a number of events that suggested an organized initiative to counter this public perception of the project.
José Antonio Nieves Rodríguez, Tabasco Tourism Minister, in an interview with El Heraldo De Tabasco, stated that the Mayan Train project was expected to detonate tourism in the country’s entire southeastern region and would also strengthen Tabasco’s position within the region as a prime touristic destination. The governor highlighted the importance of the train’s first segment, which will have two stops in Tabasco, and explained that he did not understand why criticism of the project was coming from within the state. However, he did also say that he understands why organizations outside of the southeastern region could find reasons to oppose the project.
El Diario de Yucatán reported on an announcement made on FONATUR’s Twitter account regarding an agreement of mutual support being signed between FONATUR and SEP in support of the Mayan Train project. According to the agreement, SEP commits to incorporate all members of communities affected by the Mayan Train into its higher education systems, while FONATUR commits to providing training and commercial development for all of these communities.
On Sunday, El Heraldo de Tabasco reported on statements made by CMIC Tabasco President José Luis González Valencia in support of the Mayan Train project and in support of the Villahermosa companies posting competitive bids for the construction of the first two segments. Valencia supported the continuity of the Mayan Train project in the midst of COVID-19 shutdowns, arguing in favor of the project’s essential nature to the Mexican economy and to the region’s development. Finally, all of this was capped off by an exclusive interview offered today by FONATUR Director General Rogelio Jiménez Pons to Radio Fórmula, in which he made clear that the project will continue and also spoke in support of the seriousness with which federal and state authorities and institutions are analyzing and overseeing all aspects of the project.