Playa del Carmen: A New Name for Solidaridad Municipality?

Estefanía Mercado, the municipal president of Solidaridad, has proposed renaming the municipality to "Playa del Carmen". The goal is to strengthen the identity of this globally recognized tourist destination. The proposed change aims to solidify the "Playa del Carmen" brand and use its international reputation to boost the region's tourism appeal. The announcement was made on the 122nd anniversary of the destination's founding, which started as a chiclero camp before evolving into a fishing village and eventually becoming a world-class tourist destination.

Mercado believes that the name change could present a more consistent and clear image of the destination to international markets. This could benefit the tourism industry, a crucial economic pillar of the region. "Playa del Carmen" is the name most visitors use to identify the municipality, whereas "Solidaridad" is often overlooked outside the region.

To facilitate this change, the municipal government plans to conduct a public consultation. This will allow Solidaridad's residents to voice their opinions and give their approval before finalizing the name change. Mercado assures that the consultation process will be transparent and accessible to all citizens, aiming to include the community's voice in this decision.

The name change would necessitate adherence to various administrative and legal procedures, including approval from the State Congress of Quintana Roo. However, Mercado's administration emphasizes that their primary objective is to respect the will of Solidaridad's people and reflect their local identity and pride in this decision.