Despite the negative press and the U.S. Department’s recent travel alert, vacationers are still heading to Mexico to plunge their toes in the sand and bask in the tropical sun, while taking advantage of the budget friendly deals. The reports continue to be positive in resort towns with Mexico vacationers safe, smiling and planning to return.
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I travel to Mexico frequently, probably 4-5 times per year. Just last week, I traveled to the Cancun and Playa del Carmen area. Not once did I feel unsafe, even late in the afternoon or early evening when strolling alone down Fifth Avenue in Playa. I chatted with several travelers and their families, ranging in age from toddler to spring breakers to baby boomers and senior citizens. These Mexico vacationers traveled from global hodgepodge of countries from Germany to Canada, and in the U.S., from New Jersey to California, Minnesota to Texas, and of course, Denver, and everywhere in between.
In October, I visited the Riviera Nayarit, selecting the budget friendly Riu Resorts, and added yet another Mexico destination and resort as one of my favorite south-of-the-border paradises. Riviera Nayarit is Mexico’s newest travel destination stretching along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by spectacular mountains to the north of renowned Puerto Vallarta.
Still not convinced? Over a three day period in early March 2009, dozens of video surveys were conducted by Riviera Nayarit CVB of both tourists and travel professionals. The interviews captured high praise of the destination including the warmth of its people and the sense of safety enjoyed while visiting the tourist area.
Even Dallas Cowboy Terence Newman enjoyed his Mexico vacation. His video commentary on his March visit to the Riviera Nayarit included these comments, “Mexico is a place with beautiful scenery, rich tradition, great food, and lots to do!” Newman noted that he kept busy 4-wheeling in the mountains; enjoying the history and culture; and playing lots of golf.
When asked if Newman would return to Mexico, he said, “Definitely! I will probably come back in July before starting camp. It’s a great place to relax. Everytime I go home, I’m still talking about it and recomend my friends to come down.”
The overall sentiment of the majority of visitors surveyed was offered by David Beck of Canada, vacationing in the tourist town of Flamingos who said, “I will be back…it’s nice and safe and beautiful.” Following are excerpts from the visitors and travel professionals participating in the tourism video survey:
- “It keeps getting better. We rent a car, we find things to explore. We drove to San Sebastian and had a wonderful trip… it’s our own little corner of paradise,” – repeat vacationer to Riviera Nayarit, Leonard Margolis from the United States.
- “If you’re asking would I be fearful, no, I’m not. I wouldn’t bring my friends if I was fearful,” – repeat vacationer to Riviera Nayarit, Karla Caral from Canada
- “It’s so beautiful, peaceful and the people are wonderful. You can do everything you want or you can do nothing,” – travel professional, Lisa McGrath from Travel Exchange
- “We took the San Sebastian trip up into the mountains and we felt safe and secure the entire time, people are very friendly here,” – vacationer, Nichols Kuenzi from the United States
Marc Murphy, Director of the Riviera Nayarit CVB affirmed the area’s safety and security saying, “Riviera Nayarit has always taken visitor security very seriously, long before the recent negative publicity being reported about other areas in the country. As a result our destination and the state of Nayarit have not had any incidents.”
Murphy added, “It has always been standard operating procedure for our State Police to monitor border crossings from other states and tourist areas to ensure the highest levels of safety possible for visitors and residents in the area. In addition, the three hotel associations in Riviera Nayarit sponsor a special “Tourist Police” program to provide additional security as well as provide assistance to visitors.”
Response to the Funjet survey , according to Riviera Nayarit CVB, echoed the sentiments of their video interviews. The Funjet interviews took place from March 6 – 15, 2009 and yielded more than 900 responses from travelers who took a vacation to Mexico between October 2008 and March 2009. The Funjet results were overwhelmingly positive with 97% of those surveyed indicating they would return to Mexico for another vacation and 90% of all respondents agreeing to the statement “I felt safe and secure.” Of the respondents who agreed to feeling safe and secure, 92% traveled in 2009 and 88% traveled in 2008, indicating that a growing number of travelers felt safe and secure in Mexico in 2009.
ABOUT Riviera Nayarit: Mostly undeveloped, the destination extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic, colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita and the spectacular Banderas Bay. The region features luxury resorts and eco-tourism boutique hotels, world-renowned surfing, four professional golf courses, rare native wildlife including sea turtles and tropical birds, mountain and island adventures, shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts, charming fishing towns and miles of serene beaches. For more information, visit: www.RivieraNayarit.com.
NOTEWORTHY: In late 2008, SmarterTravel.com listed Riviera Nayarit first in its top five destinations to watch for 2009. In early 2009, Riviera Nayarit was also cited as a top destination for 2009 by CheapFlights.com, Hideaways Magazine and BudgetTravel.com.
Muchos gracias to the Riviera Nayarit CVB for providing much of the information above.
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