This year’s Mazunte International Jazz Festival could be canceled since promised funding has failed to materialize.
Governor Alejandro Murat Hinojosa and federal Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco Márquez had originally announced that the festival would return to Mazunte, with an allocation of 5 million pesos (about US $256,000), intended to consolidate the event’s musical line up.
Then, during the annual Magical Town Tianguis held in Oaxaca city early last month, Murat, Torruco and the head of the state Tourism Ministry, Juan Carlos Rivera, announced that while everything was ready for the jazz festival, its budget had shrunk to 3 million pesos.
There are now reports not only that the funding has not been delivered, but less than 1 million pesos is to be made available to organize three days of musical activities.
Municipal authorities in Santa María Tonameca are now left with the organization of a renowned cultural event with zero funding two weeks before it is set to take place.
The Mazunte International Jazz Festival was suspended the last two years due to the pandemic. After Governor Murat announced its return this year, thousands of people immediately booked travel and hotel accommodations in the Magical Town for the second-to-last weekend of November.
Some tourist service providers have reported that they estimate the arrival of about 6,000 visitors, a much needed and expected source of revenue.
But whether they will find a jazz festival is another matter.
Commenters on a Mazunte Facebook page were mostly doubtful this week, but one suggested there might be a smaller version of the festival with local musicians performing. Another said that live music would continue to be offered daily in local establishments.
With reports from Estado Actual
