In Baja California (Mexico), domestic and foreign tourism benefits artisans

25-04-23

Tourists buy pearls cultivated in the Sea of Cortez, works of palm, choya, and handicrafts of our state.

La Paz, Baja California Sur (OEM-Informex) - Selene González Richi, director of the Casa del Artesano Sudcaliforniano, located in front of the malecon, expressed that in this year 2023 they have had a greater presence from both foreign and national tourism.

This has greatly benefited La Casa del Artesano and some people who are dedicated to selling their handicrafts, being this a place dedicated to the sale of these articles promoting the art and the exclusive designs of the artisans of this entity full of natural beauties.

He also affirmed that tourists like to buy pearls, some works made with palm leaves, date leaf weavings, choya handicrafts, among other handicrafts made in our state that are unique in the world.

"We had a good closing of the year and we are starting a year 2023 with a lot of foreign and national tourism being a high season, we have a small sample of the cultured pearls of La Paz or the pearls of Cortes, which are produced in the farm located in Pichilingue on Avenida Central Poniente on the corner of Avenida Central Sur in the port precinct.

"It is a farm that grows pearl oysters of mother-of-pearl and mother-of-pearl shells, some people buy the cream or soap, in the regional aspect they buy a lot of cactus wood, they are amazed at the work that can be done in choya, that is why they say we are choyeros because of the choya, they also sell cardon boxes, choya portrait frames, paintings that represent us".

"Two artisans have joined us with palm weaving, a lady from El Rosario and a girl from La Paz, we are about to bring some weavings from the communities, on the side of Las Pocitas towards the sierra they weave date leaves, which is a finer weave than palm, We also have a combination of clay and palm that is unique in the world and is only made in Baja California Sur, some decorative pieces of earthenware such as plates, clay fruit bowls or other kitchen pieces where they weave the palm on the edge, it is something new for tourists".

"Some people do incredible work with leather saddlery, those who make knives with their traditional sheaths and sheaths in Los Dolores, La Soledad and in that part of the sierra, they are remote rural communities where they have the richness of making knives and the art of cutlery.

"We invite all the people to consume our products, we have economic prices from the workshop to the shop, there are no intermediaries, it is a direct deal with the artisan and the client.

The increased presence of foreign and national tourism as well as cruise ships has increased sales of light handicrafts to take on trips, as well as looking for unique products such as pearls cultivated in La Paz, among other curious handicrafts that give us the Choyera identity.

In the month of February and the Carnival festivities there is a greater presence of people who visit La Casa del Artesano.

"On February 14 they come to buy a little gift for the bride or the wife, a pearl or jewellery, a lover who wants to get engaged gives a cultured pearl ring to the bride, we have pearl rings from 5300 pesos from a designer who makes these works. The high season for us is in the summer and the Christmas season.