Just weeks after the security incidents that occurred in the region in February, Puerto Vallarta is hosting the 31st edition of Gala Vallarta–Riviera Nayarit, one of the most important tourism business events on the Mexican Pacific coast. The event, taking place from March 10-12, brings together more than 750 industry professionals, including wholesalers, airlines, tourism companies, and content creators, and is expected to generate around 5,000 business meetings that will shape the destination’s tourism direction in the coming months.
For Jalisco’s Secretary of Tourism, Michelle Fridman, this event comes at a crucial time for the destination, which is seeking to reinforce the confidence of visitors and international business partners following the security incidents of the past few weeks. During a conversation with the media, the official assured that the destination is maintaining normal tourism operations and that the recovery was practically immediate.
“Puerto Vallarta restored its tourism operations with remarkable speed. Within 48 hours, we had all connectivity restored, all hotel and restaurant services operating, and mobility back on track. Now we are in a recovery process progressing quite rapidly,” she noted.
Fridman explained that, in the days following the incidents, she visited different parts of the destination to gauge visitors’ perceptions. “I’ve been walking along the boardwalk, the beaches, and also the southern beaches, even in Cabo Corrientes. I’ve met with national and international tourists, and when I ask them how they feel, they reiterate that they feel safe, that they are happy, that they are enjoying the destination, and that they intend to return, as they do every year, to Puerto Vallarta,” she affirmed.
The Secretary of Tourism emphasized that the Vallarta–Riviera Nayarit Gala will also serve as a platform to showcase the destination’s recovery firsthand. The event brings together tour operators, airlines, wholesale agencies, and industry representatives from at least 10 countries, as well as more than 100 local, national, and international media outlets.
“We’re talking about more than 750 members of the tourism sector, both national and international, and more than 100 media outlets. We’re not only holding more than 5,000 business meetings that will shape the future of tourism in Puerto Vallarta in the coming months, but also confirming firsthand that the destination is standing strong and that it’s safe,” she stated.
According to Fridman, the fact that event participants are exploring the destination and experiencing it firsthand will reinforce a positive perception of the place. “Everyone has been sightseeing, everyone has been walking around the destination, and they can see it for themselves.”
In the context of the events of February, the official assured that the state maintains security levels comparable to other international tourist destinations.
“Jalisco offers the same levels of security as any tourist destination in the world. An isolated incident occurred, as happens in many cities in the United States or in European cities, and we are back to normal.”
Fridman added that the federal and state governments reinforced security measures in the state after the incident. Currently, the operation includes federal, state, and municipal forces, as well as technological infrastructure and surveillance at various points throughout the state. Among the resources deployed are more than 99,000 security personnel, long-range monitoring drones, facial recognition cameras, patrol aircraft, and tactical ground units assigned to reinforce surveillance in strategic areas of the state.
“Nowhere in the world can guarantee that an incident will never occur, but today we have greater security than we did 14 days ago, and our destinations are operating completely normally,” Fridman said.
Just weeks after the security incidents that occurred in the region in February, Puerto Vallarta is hosting the 31st edition of Gala Vallarta–Riviera Nayarit, one of the most important tourism business events on the Mexican Pacific coast. The event, taking place from March 10-12, brings together more than 750 industry professionals, including wholesalers, airlines, tourism companies, and content creators, and is expected to generate around 5,000 business meetings that will shape the destination’s tourism direction in the coming months.
For Jalisco’s Secretary of Tourism, Michelle Fridman, this event comes at a crucial time for the destination, which is seeking to reinforce the confidence of visitors and international business partners following the security incidents of the past few weeks. During a conversation with the media, the official assured that the destination is maintaining normal tourism operations and that the recovery was practically immediate.
“Puerto Vallarta restored its tourism operations with remarkable speed. Within 48 hours, we had all connectivity restored, all hotel and restaurant services operating, and mobility back on track. Now we are in a recovery process progressing quite rapidly,” she noted.
Fridman explained that, in the days following the incidents, she visited different parts of the destination to gauge visitors’ perceptions. “I’ve been walking along the boardwalk, the beaches, and also the southern beaches, even in Cabo Corrientes. I’ve met with national and international tourists, and when I ask them how they feel, they reiterate that they feel safe, that they are happy, that they are enjoying the destination, and that they intend to return, as they do every year, to Puerto Vallarta,” she affirmed.
The Secretary of Tourism emphasized that the Vallarta–Riviera Nayarit Gala will also serve as a platform to showcase the destination’s recovery firsthand. The event brings together tour operators, airlines, wholesale agencies, and industry representatives from at least 10 countries, as well as more than 100 local, national, and international media outlets.
“We’re talking about more than 750 members of the tourism sector, both national and international, and more than 100 media outlets. We’re not only holding more than 5,000 business meetings that will shape the future of tourism in Puerto Vallarta in the coming months, but also confirming firsthand that the destination is standing strong and that it’s safe,” she stated.
According to Fridman, the fact that event participants are exploring the destination and experiencing it firsthand will reinforce a positive perception of the place. “Everyone has been sightseeing, everyone has been walking around the destination, and they can see it for themselves.”
In the context of the events of February, the official assured that the state maintains security levels comparable to other international tourist destinations.
“Jalisco offers the same levels of security as any tourist destination in the world. An isolated incident occurred, as happens in many cities in the United States or in European cities, and we are back to normal.”
Fridman added that the federal and state governments reinforced security measures in the state after the incident. Currently, the operation includes federal, state, and municipal forces, as well as technological infrastructure and surveillance at various points throughout the state. Among the resources deployed are more than 99,000 security personnel, long-range monitoring drones, facial recognition cameras, patrol aircraft, and tactical ground units assigned to reinforce surveillance in strategic areas of the state.
“Nowhere in the world can guarantee that an incident will never occur, but today we have greater security than we did 14 days ago, and our destinations are operating completely normally,” Fridman said.
Source: informador
