The hospitality industry in Oaxaca City, gradually recovering from anti-government protests that left the tourism industry reeling in 2006, now is faced with more of the same.

The leader of the protests, recently released from prison, has promised that his followers will take to the streets starting in mid June, demanding, among other things, the resignation of the governor.

The protests began with a strike by public school teachers, turning worse when police tried and failed to quell a demonstration that blocked downtown streets. In the weeks that followed, protesters seized and occupied downtown Oaxaca. Tourists, who in the past had come to savor the viceregal flavor of the city, visit its archaeological sites and picturesque villages nearby, stayed away in droves. Several shops, restaurants and hotels closed, others barely survived.

Starting Saturday, Oaxaca hopes to recover its faded image with a week long Humanitas festival, followed in July by the Guelaguetza folkloric dance festival in July. In 2006, protesters forced the cancellation of the Guelaguetza and last year few tourists troubled to attend.

By Jimm Budd

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 10:33 am and is filed under Mexico Tourism News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.