Lukeville border closure impacts Rocky Point businesses

The border closure at the Lukeville checkpoint is apparently causing major economic losses for Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point). There have been thousands of cancellations for hotels and Air BnBs, leading to about $120,000 in loss and much more expected.

Scott Poturalski, Sales Associate at Encantame Resorts, joined Arizona Horizon to dive further into the impacts of the border closure.

“We obviously depend on tourism here, so anybody in the tourism business is hard. Those that rent their condos are hurting, those that take the Sunset Cruises out to see the dolphins and everything are hurting. So nobody is really spared down here,” Poturalski said.

Some tourists who have travelled to Puerto Penasco have taken alternative routes, which Poturalski recommends and invites tourists to take advantage of that opportunity.

Smaller businesses in the area are hurting due to the closure, and Poturalski is surprised by how fast they are hurting.

“The fact that even on the slowest time of the year, within a week and a half, that we have so many businesses that are looking at cutting employees or shorting hours is impactful and anxiety-ridden,” Poturalski said.