Cancun’s chief hotelier iffy over soon opening of floating casinos

Contrary to the expectations raised by Artemio Santos, Tourism Secretary in the state of Quitana Roo (Mexican Caribbean) about the opening in a little while of gambling centers and casinos in the country, especially in Cancun, Jose Chapur Zahoul, chairman of the Quintana Roo Hotelier Association, believes “a few slot machines are not going to make any difference.”

The entrepreneur even considers the proposal won’t get the success its promoters are anticipating for this kind of attraction, because similar efforts in the past have backfired in just a week.

Mr. Zahoul’s remarks come on the heels of the addition of Puerto Morelos –one of the spots where casino ships will sail from shortly to operate in the waters off northern Quintana Roo- to the list of travel destinations that support the Mayan Riviera Promotional Trusteeship.

As to the casino ships, Secretary Santos asserts he’s only aware of one casino vessel that –according to its owners- will start operating as soon as December or January next year.

For Mr. Santos, a diehard advocate of the proposal, gambling is “a plus that Cancun, and mainly Puerto Morelos, needs badly. It’ll be great to have one ship operating in Cancun and another one in Puerto Morelos,” he said.

Secretary Santos is certain that the size of the ship –seating up to 300 passengers- won’t call for extra works in the canal of Puerto Morelos.