Noting that the severing of diplomatic relations between Peru and Mexico will generate a negative perception for tourism, hotelier Jesús Almaguer Salazar believes that promotional efforts must be strengthened to avoid a drastic drop in this market, which has been suffering from low numbers since the visa requirement was imposed.
In an interview, he said that while the federal government announced it would maintain the embassy and consulate for visa processing, this is a good sign, but the tourism industry is very sensitive to all factors; the United States is a prime example, as its anti-immigrant policies have affected the flow of travelers.
“Fortunately, the federal government will maintain the embassy and consulate regarding visas, which shouldn’t have been required since it’s part of the Asia-Pacific Partnership, but it was imposed, and we have to be there and work to convince and entice people to keep coming.”
He emphasized that tourism is sensitive to any external issue, and in this case, the diplomatic conflict with Peru will have repercussions on local political issues and public perception; therefore, it is important to strengthen promotional efforts and actively seek out tourists.
He indicated that every tourist counts and represents a great deal for the Mexican Caribbean; an example of this is the Brazilian tourist, who spends four times more than the North American tourist, yet the visa requirement has resulted in fewer visitors, as has the situation with Peru and other markets like Colombia.
Source: quintanaroohoy
