Ramón Zavala recognized as a pioneer of tourism in San Miguel de Allende

Published September 29th, 2021

Ramón Zavala Camarena’s avant-garde vision as a pioneer of tourism in San Miguel de Allende was recognized by the municipal government as a precursor of San Miguel de Allende’s culture and tourism.

In front of his relatives from several generations, and with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque on the facade of the Posada San Francisco hotel, the municipal president, Luis Alberto Villarreal García, highlighted the transcendence of Ramón Zavala, as a precursor of San Miguel’s culture and economy.

“If something distinguishes us Sanmiguelenses is that we have been able to build what we have today, thanks to generosity, heart, a sense of value and solidarity. Gratitude is the memory of the heart. Sometimes we do not value what San Miguel de Allende is. Don Ramón was ahead of his time, he was able to see beyond the parish, he had the ability to see on the horizon the stars that would correspond to San Miguel de Allende, that is why we wanted to recognize the merit of a promoter, a developer, the first formal hotelier that our municipality had”, said the mayor of San Miguel de Allende.

“It was a milestone to build and generate an economy that today directly or indirectly supports 80 percent of the population of San Miguel. Thanks to visionary men like Don Ramón (San Miguel de Allende) is much, much better. Congratulations to the Zavala family,” he added, in addition to highlighting their achievements contributed to San Miguel’s tourism profile.

The notary public, Alfredo Zavala Ramirez, shared the emotion that the Zavala Family felt with this tribute from the municipality, “this act is very sentimental for us. We thank them with all our hearts,” he said.

Ramón Zavala García, a grandson of the honoree, emphasized that his grandfather was a visionary when he formalized the construction of the first hotels in San Miguel, “I am totally convinced that he was a visionary. In 1939, he started this hotel (Posada San Francisco and later Posada de La Aldea, many people made fun of him thinking that how could he think that San Miguel de Allende was a tourist destination? the rest I will keep to myself, I think we all know. Let’s be thankful that our San Miguel has been preserved, its first painting is one of the most beautiful that must exist in the world, it is the one my grandfather saw. It contributed to the commercial movement of San Miguel. I feel very proud”, he shared.

The unveiled plaque reads “Recognizes Don Ramón Zavala Camarena (1900-1986). Precursor of San Miguel’s culture and economy, first tourist and hotel promoter of the city. Luis Alberto Villarreal García. Municipal President. Honorable City Council 2018-2021 of San Miguel de Allende, Gto. September 27, 2021”.