A local mayor has regretted allowing tourists to visit a huge field of sunflowers after people vandalised the site by etching smiley faces and writing their names on the flower heads.
The sunflower field of Mocorito in the north-western Mexican state of Sinaloa was opened to visitors earlier this month after local authorities decided that it would make for a nice tourist attraction.
However, instead of enjoying a leisurely stroll through the colourful field and surrounding beauty spots, tourists etched smiley faces and names of loved ones into the sunflower heads.
Mocorito mayor Jesus Guillermo Galindo Castro said that they made the decision to open the field to visitors after a similar idea in 2017 produced good results.
He also said that several other rural projects are in the works, but they will need to be better organised if they are going to make them happen.
Mocorito tourism official Jessy Martinez Sauceda told local media: “The same thing happened two years ago when a farmer decided to grow sunflowers in the area. He quit last year because it was not profitable, but we did notice a positive upturn in tourism during that time.”
Netizen ‘Anny G Niebla’ said: “You should not promote beautiful spots as they only get damaged.”
‘Fca Espinoza’ commented: “Beastly people.”
‘Magui Espada’ wrote: “These people should be fined. Instead of enjoying the sunflowers, they destroy them.”
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Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
