by Pat Tyson

When Jesus M. Corral first visited San José del Cabo in 1966, there was no airport and no highway.  He landed in La Paz and headed for San José over rough terrain; it took twelve hours.  During the 27 years that followed, he traveled to Los Cabos at least once a year and was able to observe the immense changes that the city was passing through.

​“I moved from México City in mid-1993,” recalled.  “We thought it would be nice to move out of the big city for a two-year period but, by 1995, we decided that we would make Los Cabos our permanent residence.”  And it wasn’t easy to step into the position of Secretary of Tourism.  It all began from zero.  There was no office, no budget, no people.

​“Nothing,” he explained.  “It all began with the good will of Mr. Ulises Ceseña, our mayor, to have a tourism office in Los Cabos.”  There was a lot to be accomplished in the early days of this administration, which served as a Convention and Visitors Bureau.  There was the “Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation” summit in Cabo.  There were 21 of the most powerful economic leaders in the world in the area.  At the time, Corral worked very closely with the Sultan of Brunei.  

​As a CVB, the bureau helped to organize a number of conventions, incentive groups and meetings in Los Cabos.  It was also a primary contact for a number of sports tournaments such as Bisbee’s, Rolex fishing tournaments, golf marathons, car races, and helped organize the jazz festivals.

​“When the movie with Brad Pitt, “Troy,” was shot, we were the contact among the authorities and the company,” Corral said.  “There have been a number of television shootings, castings, photo sessions and so forth.  Here in Los Cabos, when they needed assistance, we provided it.”  His office also has a statistical database that provides information to universities, newspapers and private parties.

​“It is hard to say what we have accomplished,” he stated.  “This is never-ending work because it is a service agency.  We are devoted to the tourist and tourism.”  

​However, this year his term will be up and he will be turning his attention to other areas.  Raised and educated in México City, he attended the Universidad Iberoamericana, receiving his degree in Business Administration.  It was here he had his first contact with tourism, teaching classes in this subject for fifteen semesters until moving to Cabo.  Before that, he had worked for brokerage firms as an investment banker and project manager.   

​As his career developed, he has earned awards from several universities and associations for the various positions he has filled.  They include President for the local Chamber of Commerce, President of Consejo Coordinador de Los Cabos, ​and Treasurer of the Developers Association of Los Cabos.  At the moment he says he has no plans for the future when he leaves office.

​“I’d love to take a cruise to the fiords and relax for a while,” he said.  “I am also very interested in the hospitality industry, especially fractional and time-share.  I’d also like to develop a real estate project with my family.”

​And speaking of family, he is the oldest of five children.  In 1984 he married his delightful wife, Cecillia, whom he met in Los Cabos in 1980.  His son, Jesus is 18 and is in Monterrey.  Daughter Andrea, age 8, is in second grade.  They live in Los Cabos, on the corridor.  Regarding the upcoming changes in his life, he says he will miss the teamwork.

​“This is the smallest secretaria in Los Cabos, but it is also the greatest,” he went on.  “I will miss talking on the phone with tourists, destination management companies, wedding planners, journalists, writers, photographers, spring breakers…all the people who made these three years feel like three minutes!”   Nevertheless, he will retain a special interest in the tourist industry.

​“We should encourage respect for Los Cabos; we are growing so fast that some Old Cabos tokens can get lost–the friendliness, a good smile, a helping hand,” Corral added.  “We cannot change the course of events, and Cabo will grow like crazy for the next 25 years, but the warmth of its people must be preserved.”