Yucatán’s Tourism Minister, Michelle Fridman Hirsch, continues to spearhead a proactive campaign to not only reestablish airport and cruise port connectivity but add new routes as part of the state’s Economic and Tourism Recovery Plan.
Last week, it was announced that Yucatán has already seen the return of 100% of U.S. flights and the return of the first cruise ship to Puerto Progreso.
Fridman Hirsch is currently participating in Routes Americas 2021. The only air service development event, it provides a platform for airports and destinations to highlight cost-effective route propositions to airline decision makers as they look to rebuild their networks and reintroduce capacity back into the market. During the event, the minister met with North American airlines representatives to start conversations on possible new routes from carriers such as JetBlue, Aeroméxico, Spirit Airlines, Air Canada, Volaris, United Airlines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, WestJet and Air Transat.
Fridman Hirsch and her team also participated in this year’s summit of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), where they met with the entity’s leadership in an effort to start conversations on Puerto Progreso and the current offering the port and its region can offer passengers. Puerto Progreso underwent an extensive remodeling project prior to the pandemic and more local tour operators have included tours for cruise passengers. The delegation also met with representatives from Royal Caribbean Cruise Line.
Yucatán has long enjoyed a reputation as Mexico’s safest state, a position that was enhanced last week when the U.S. Department of State updated its travel warning to Mexico. The first update since placing the entire country under a Level 4 Travel Advisory (“Do No Travel”) because of Covid-19, the update moved the state to the lowest level of travel restriction, Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions. This marks the first time a Mexican destination achieved Level 1 since the agency began issuing warnings for Mexico divided by state.
