Genaro Ruíz
His Passion Is To Promote Baja California Sur
By Pat Tyson
In a state where 74 percent of the gross domestic product is generated by tourism, Genaro Ruíz feels honored to have been named Secretary of Tourism of Baja California Sur by Governor Carlos Mendoza.
“The main course to be taken is to consolidate our top tourist destination: Los Cabos,” he explains. “We must make sure that this success is repeated in our other tourist destinations through premium services, upon which we will focus in the training of our people.” Ruíz is certain that the best tourism promotion can be achieved is by word of mouth – through the positive experiences that visitors have encountered while staying in Baja – and having the best equipped cities in terms of tourism infrastructure.
Ruíz is confident that promoting both the natural beauty and friendliness of the Mexican people will continue to show positive results in bringing more visitors to the state. “Baja California Sur is a wonderful land, where our tourists can enjoy the best holidays,” he says with the utmost confidence – and goes on to give examples of his favorite features.
“I like the people, I like this natural beauty, especially the marine life; we are fortunate to have forty percent of the world’s marine mammals inhabiting the Sea of Cortez,” he says, describing the immense abundance of the marine life to be found there and pointing out that Jacques Cousteau gave it the name “The
World’s Aquarium.” But Ruíz offers his own interpretation.
“I would add that it is the marine Serengeti, because it is a place where you can see and swim, too, with sea lions and sharks of different species.” With fishing a prominent sport, he describes the many types of fish, including billfish and dorado, besides hundreds of other diverse varieties, that are to be found in the ocean there. And for those who look to the skies, there are many different species of birds to satisfy the heart of any birdwatcher.
“Among the other great wealth of flora and fauna, Baja Sur also has great historical and cultural wealth to show the world, such as the Route of the Missions, the Missions of Loreto, the Mission of San Francisco Javier, San Ignacio in Mulege, among others that are full of history. Also, there are the ancient and impressive cave paintings in various areas of the State,” adds Ruíz.
But there is so much more that makes him proud, especially the cuisine prepared in Baja. This includes such favorites as moles, shrimp, abalone, burro snails Loretana clams and fish tacos. Everything he enjoys is right there and he has no wish to explore further outside of Baja. “I am very passionate about the Sea of Cortez and, without a doubt, for people to know these most unique natural beauties is one of my principle assignments,” he emphasizes.
Born in Mexico City in 1967, he studied there through sixth grade and then, in 1979, moved to La Paz, where he attended middle and high school. Returning to Mexico City, at the National University of Mexico (UNAM) he studied Public Administration, with the idea of being able to serve his country and his state of Baja California Sur. His main influences in life have been, and are, his father, his mother, his wife and two children. His favorite relaxation is in time spent with his family, playing golf and swimming at the beaches. There are certain aspects of Baja that he feels everyone should know.
“The remarkable recovery that has occurred in the Los Cabos area after Hurricane Odile,” he states. “Sixteen months after being impacted by this phenomenon we have, today, almost one hundred percent recovered in the hotel industry.” The construction of hotels such as JW Marriott, Hyatt Park, Montage, Auberge, Grand Solmar, Le Blanc, among others, represent some 3,900 new rooms that will open in 2016 and 2017, which will position the area of Los Cabos as a premium destination with the highest average rate in the country
By the end of 2015, the influx of visitors at the International Airport numbered some two million, making it a record year in the tourism history of the State. In the ports of La Paz and Loreto, there was a significant increase in cruise ship arrivals, and hopes are high that this trend will continue.
“I would like to invite all readers of BajaTRAVELER® to visit Baja California Sur, and to know that our State will be receiving them, as it has always done, with open arms, and the smiles and warmth of its people,” says Ruíz. He wants visitors to enjoy the unique natural beauty and, with the new government headed by Governor Carlos Mendoza Davis – who knows and understands tourism – they can continue positioning Baja as one of the best destinations in the world.