"Travellers are fully enjoying their stay”: Transat echoes Quintana Roo update

Transat is echoing a recent press release issued by the Mexican State of Quintana Roo, confirming that tourist activities in the region, following last month’s security incident in Jalisco state, are proceeding normally and continue to attract a large number of visitors.

Tourism activity in the Mexican Caribbean developed “normally” from February 21-28, a period in which the state’s destinations (such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen) recorded an average hotel occupancy of 85.4 per cent and an estimated 574,706 tourists, the local government said.

“The state’s 12 tourist destinations operate without interruptions, with airports, ports, cruise terminals, transportation services, hotel zones, public beaches, and tourist attractions functioning regularly and providing quality experiences to visitors,” reads a statement.

In an email to PAX, Renée Boisvert, Transat’s VP of tour operator products and sales, supported the update.

"We are pleased to see that local authorities confirm the smooth running of tourist activities in the region,” Boisvert wrote. “This is also what we are hearing from our hotel partners on the ground: operations are continuing as usual, and travellers are fully enjoying their stay. Clients can therefore plan their trip to the State of Quintana Roo with complete peace of mind."

Additionally, according to the state, 55 cruise ships arrived through the ports of Mahahual and Cozumel, with an estimated 146,300 cruise passengers.

Likewise, 4,969 flights were recorded at the state’s four international airports.

During the week, the beaches and main tourist areas also saw “a large influx of visitors” enjoying the destination.

The update comes after violent incidents on the Pacific side of Mexico broke out in late February across select regions in Jalisco state, triggered by government forces killing a high-ranking cartel leader.

Global Affairs Canada says the security situation in Jalisco, as well as in the states of Sinaloa—home to Mazatlán—and Quintana Roo, which includes Playa del Carmen and Cancun, has stabilized.

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