Tianguis_2011
Journey Mexico’s Zachary Rabinor, Matteo Luthi, and Rene Rivera recently returned from the 36th annual Tianguis Touristico event in Acapulco, Mexico. Reports are that the event was a huge success as representatives from 22 global markets were represented including China, Chile, Czech Republic, and Poland.
Travel Weekly posted a nice review of the event. Below are some standout quotes:
- Mexico is targeting 26 million visitors this year, up from the 22.4 million in 2010, according to Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara.
- Visitor figures for January point to a 1.7% increase over January 2010 and solid advance bookings heading into the Easter period and beyond, according to Guevara.
- Mazatlan tourism officials urged travel agents, tour operators, airlines and wholesale partners to “have confidence in us” in the face of a cruise line pullout earlier this year.
- Officials are working with the government to develop a strategic master plan for tourism growth and said talks with cruise lines are ongoing in an effort to gain the return of the lines for the next cruise season.
- Carlos Berdegue, vice president of the Mazatlan Hotel Association, pointed to the launch of American’s daily service from Dallas on June 9, the planned development of a new resort area called Teacapan 60 miles south of the Pacific coast city and a new TV campaign featuring testimonials from U.S. visitors to reinforce the message that “there is an appetite for Mazatlan. We need tourism to revitalize our economy.”
- Guevara outlined details of the recently launched “I Am A Tourist” program designed to increase domestic tourism, and cited the increase in seat capacity and frequency by U.S. carriers serving Mexico. She said that Air France’s launch of nonstop service three times a week between Paris and Cancun Oct. 21 “reinforces the strength of Mexico for the European market. Airlines follow demand.
