Annual travel mart draws people from afar
Mexico’s Caribbean-fronting state of Quintana Roo has become more accessible for Canadians, thanks to its ever-broadening tourism infrastructure.
The past year has seen the opening of an international airport in coastal Tulum, with Air Canada using it to carry passengers from both Montreal and Toronto, and WestJet and Sunwing, also opting to use it, with Sunwing Vacations sending clients to Tulum through April 20.
The Canadian carriers join other international airlines in using the Tulum facility, with international air travellers bound for Quintana Roo previously relying on Cancun International Airport.
And Andres Martinez, general director of Quintana Roo’s tourist board, cites other examples of state tourism infrastructure growth, with Tulum now having four cruise terminals and over 130,000 hotel rooms.
“We have more hotel rooms than Paris. We have more hotel rooms than New York,” Martinez said during late October’s Cancun Travel Mart.
Show delegates were invited to evening parties at the newish Hyatt Viivid — a 400-room resort in Cancun — and the 507-room Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres, found in the Cancun area. Both are part of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection and tourism officials say their arrival this year underscores the growing number of accommodation choices for those visiting the Cancun area.
Quintana Roo is inviting people to “enjoy the best of the Caribbean and the best of Mexico,” with the state — home to Cancun and the Riviera Maya — famed for its white-sand beaches and turquoise water.
The bulk of Quintana Roo visitors head for Cancun and also hugely popular Playa del Carmen, which Martinez labels “powerful brands” for the state. But tourism authorities are suggesting visitors visit other parts of Quintana Roo as well.
“You have come to Cancun four times already and so you come to explore the rest. We have everything here. The only thing we won’t have is snow,” Martinez stated.
Quintana Roo figured prominently in the ancient Maya civilization and archeological sites are found throughout the state. Dramatic Chichen Itza — found in the bordering state of Yucatan — is a popular day trip for those staying in both Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
Colonial architecture can be seen in the region and nature and adventure excursions are also easily available for vacationers.
Many of southeastern Mexico’s varied attractions are linked by the Maya Train, a new service connecting points of interest for tourists. But Martinez also noted that the train also links Cancun’s airport with Tulum’s, with the 1-hour and 40-minute trip enabling tourists to arrive at one airport and return home by another if they wish.
Meanwhile, Martinez praised the long-running Cancun Travel Mart as an “amazing” event that provides a great showcase for Quintana Roo tourism.
Among show participants was Lia Coutinho of EZ Link, which has offices in Brazil, Mexico and the U.S. The Rio de Janeiro-based Coutinho reported that Cancun has a Brazilian following, adding the Mexican vacation retreat has nice beaches, good food and great shopping, with Brazilians liking to shop.
