Cancun Airport Never Closed
So why did tourism drop so drastically after the Coronavirus (COVID-19) hit Playa del Carmen, Tulum & Cancun? Most flights arriving were cargo flights with supplies, or emergency flights focused on getting people back home.
Mexico is not included in the list of countries that are allowed to travel to the European Union, so even if Europeans can travel wherever they want, they are left with the tedious task of finding a flight back home from Mexico.
USA-Canada-Mexico recently extended their non-essential cross-border restrictions (until at least July 21st), but unknown to many, this will not affect air or sea crossing. So why aren’t we seeing lots of “gringos” and “güeros” walking on the streets yet? People are asked not to leave their country, and in some cases are quarantined when they return back to their home city.
We will have to wait a little longer and see how this situation evolves in the next few weeks, but when travel picks up again, it looks like the Mexican Caribbean will be in a good place for tourism.
Tell Me More…
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) did not hit Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Cancun hard. The Mexican Caribbean was able to control the situation efficiently, resulting in Cancun being one of the first cities to obtain the SafeTravels certification of from the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) 💪
Quintana Roo was also quick in establishing the “Clean & Safe Check” Certification program for all businesses interacting with tourists. By doing so it increased the level of safety of any establishment open to tourists.
We are currently in the orange phase in north of Quintana Roo, which means that certain activities are allowed with some limitations. The percentage of traffic allowed for most tourist activities are:
- RED: 15%
- ORANGE: 30%
- YELLOW: 60%
- GREEN: 100%
What’s Optimistic about This Situation?
Sure, tourism will permanently be affected, but this is not necessarily a bad thing. Here is a list of things that may improve in the Mexican Caribbean, as a result of these crazy times:
- Now, more than ever, accommodations and attractions will need to maintain a more healthy ambience with several certifications. They will need to renew them periodically in order to legally operate and this will result in a (hopefully) safer ecosystem.
- Here is a list of measures that WE at loQsea.com implemented in order to secure a safe experience for all our clients!
- Hotels, flights and attractions with usually high traffic, which abused their maximum capacity, will need to maintain a limit on the percentage of their occupancy. More space = less stress = healthier tourism.
- Mexico was not perceived as a country that was hit hard by the virus, and Cancun was one of the first cities to obtain the certification of #SafeTravels from the WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council)! This should give us an edge over other popular destinations.
- Many natural wonders finally got a break from people, and had a chance to regain their magic. Humans were left without experiencing these magic places, and hopefully now we realize how lucky we are and shift our focus on taking care of them. Public beaches, cenotes and protected areas were only allowed to receive visitors recently.
Go on! You’ve Got Me Excited…
The Office of the Secretary of Tourism of Quintana Roo, is working on several options to attract visitors, and in some cases this will result in 2 x 1 packages or 50% discounts!
We also want to help YOU adapt to this new travel norm, and are giving a FREE DELIVERY to anyone using the coupon “MexicoIsBack!” at checkout. Hurry up, the offer will only be valid for a limited time!
