By MELISSA T. CASTRO

Despite facing unprecedented destructive hurricanes two years in a row, the most recent being Hurricane John, Acapulco’s fighting strength continues to show.

After making landfall on Monday, Sep. 23, Hurricane John flooded large swaths of the city’s neighbourhoods causing deadly landslides and leaving a sea of destruction in its wake.

Despite John’s efforts to render Acapulco a wasteland, the city has yet again picked up the pieces left by the storm and is now gearing up for the winter holiday season, ready to welcome visitors to its well known shores.

Lining up perfectly with the timing of Acapulco’s “We’re Still Standing” (“Seguimos de Oe”) campaign is the much anticipated “Luis Miguel Tour 2023” which is set to take place at the Arena GNP on Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17.

At a press conference organised by the Secretary of Tourism (Sectur) on Tuesday, Oct. 22, Secretary of Tourism for the State of Guerrero Simón Quiñones Orozco, highlighted the relevance of this concert to the local economy. “These concerts are an excellent opportunity to show the world that we are ready to welcome all visitors with open arms. The best support Acapulco can receive is for tourists to come and enjoy our beaches, gastronomy, and these unique events.”

The hotel and hospitality industry which had been hard-hit after Hurricane Otis in 2023, has seen a quick turnaround after Hurricane John, bouncing back to a ready-to-receive-guests state. In many ways, the destruction caused by Otis brought about construction changes and learnings that allowed for a much swifter recovery after John.

The current buffet of room options available in Acapulco spans 221 hotel properties with close to 10,800 rooms available.

Although the tour dates were pencilled in long before Hurricanes John and Otis rained down their destruction on the port city, it’s fitting that Luis Miguel’s concerts will help shepherd the city’s revival.

Speaking on behalf of GOJO Live, Alfonso Barbosa reminded attendees of Luis Miguel’s personal connections to Acapulco, “it’s a place that has witnessed some of the most important moments of his career, he’s always shown a special affection for the city.”

Acapulco was home to one of Luis Miguel’s private residences for almost twenty years, and served as the backdrop host to some of the discography and music videos that helped propel the young singer to super-stardom.

As the “Sun of Mexico” (“El Sol de México”) prepares to visit the ever-enduring coastal gem of Acapulco, Quiñones reiterated that “the sun will shine again in Acapulco, and will make it stronger than ever.”