5 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

Among the main economic activities of Baja California Sur are ecotourism, agriculture, fishing, salt extraction and mining. Each one generates the economic income to the state that guarantees its sustainability.

Being one of the most important tourist destinations in the country, beaches and ecotourism are the main sources of income for the area.

At the same time, important agricultural plantations are developed where mangoes, squash, corn, chili, melon and cereals are produced.

In recent years, the development of fishing activities has improved traditional artisanal fishing, becoming another of the main economic activities in the state.

This has made the state one of the leading suppliers to the United States, Japan, and Canada.

Salt extraction and mining are economic activities that have been in force for several decades, although they generate less income.

You may also be interested in the history of Baja California Sur or its culture.

The 5 main economic activities of Baja California Sur

Since colonization, traditional activities such as agriculture, fishing and mining have played a fundamental role in the economic development of the state of Baja California Sur.

In recent decades the state has been strengthened as a tourist destination due to the development of the sector, favored by the geographical advantages that the region has.

1- Tourism

It is the main productive sector of the state. Generates the highest percentage of income. There is a whole network that works in synergy: transport, tourist guides, hotel accommodation, among others.

Tourism represents 44% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the region. It employs more than 37,000 people directly and 148,000 indirectly.

2- Fishing activity

The fishing activity represents 16% of the total exports of the state. This is the second sector of economic importance in Baja California Sur.

This sector includes both fishing and the industry in charge of transforming the marine product for its subsequent national and international marketing.

The municipality of greatest economic importance in this activity is Mulegé, where the largest capture of marketable marine species such as abalone, shrimp, squid, sardines and tuna, among others, is concentrated.

3- Agricultural production

This activity belonging to the primary economic sector generates a lower percentage of income than that produced by tourism and fishing.

In the economic indicators for 2011, the Undersecretariat for the Promotion of Agribusiness stated that this sector only generates 0.8% of GDP at the national level, and 2.1% of the state.

4- Salt extraction

Baja California Sur has had an industry in charge of the exploitation of salt for industry and for culinary consumption for approximately 60 years.

This salt mine is considered by many to be the largest in the world. The company in charge of the extraction, processing and distribution is Exportadora de Sal ESSA.

It is located in Cerro Negro, in the municipality of Mulegé, and provides employment to 1,300 inhabitants of the region.

Despite its importance and its percentage growth, it does not represent a significant aspect of state revenue.

5- Mining

In Baja California Sur there are two important mining districts. The first is La Paz, with the exploitation of gold, silver and lead. The second is the municipality of Mulegé, where copper, cobalt, zinc and magnesium are mined.

Of the five existing plants to process metallic minerals, currently four are inactive and one started activities in 2015 irregularly.

Income from mining, which traditionally was one of the important economic activities in the state, has been surpassed by other economic areas.

References

1. Angeles, AE Gamez & A. Ivanova. On the impact of tourism on the economy of Baja California Sur, Mexico: a SAM approach . Department of Economics, Autonomous University of Baja California Sur Mexico. Sustainable Development and Planning IV, Vol. 2 783
2. Town and cities of Baja California Sur. Towns of America. Baa California Sur. Taken from en.mexico.pueblosamerica.com
3. Government of the State of Baja California Sur Secretary of Economic Promotion and Development Directorate of Informatics and Statistics. Taken from bcs.gob.mx
4. Analysis of a Mining Development in Baja California Sur, Mexico: The Los Cardones Mining Project. Taken from icfdn.org
5. Ministry of Economy. Baja California Sur state and economic information taken from gob.mx
6. Cortés Ortiz, Rocío Areli, Ponce Díaz, Germán, & Ángeles Villa, Manuel. (2006). The fishing sector in Baja California Sur: an input-output approach. Region and Society, 18 (35), 107-129. Taken from scielo.org.mx.
7. Undersecretariat for the Promotion of Agribusiness. Economic indicators for 2011. Taken from sagarpa.gob.mx