Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit Region Sees Full Tourism Recovery

Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit is getting back to its pre-recession visitor numbers, welcoming approximately 92,000 travelers so far this year compared to 2012, said Richard Zarkin, public relations director for the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We are leading in the beach destinations in occupancy figures at our properties compared this year to last,” he said. “We’re reaching those numbers from 2007 and 2008 that were pretty high. We’re seeing a full recovery this year.”

The U.S. remains the Riviera Nayarit’s number one market and is seeing growing numbers of Canadians traveling to the destination. “For the first six months of the year Canada is up 2 percent,” said Zarkin. The destination is expanding its reach to Latin America, targeting Brazil, a fast-growing market in the luxury segment. “Brazilians travel far away and they’re big spenders,” said Zarkin, noting that these travelers will vacation for seven to 10 nights. Riviera Nayarit also is targeting Colombia, whose population is traveling increasingly more.

There is more, and improved product, for the influx of tourists. The 450-room Iberostar Punta Mita will open next month in Litibu in the northern section of Banderas Bay. In addition, the Riu Jalisco has invested $12 million in a renovation, which will be completed by Nov. 15.

In other developments, Riviera Nayarit has teamed up with Puerto Vallarta and the Mexican Tourism Board in a campaign that includes television, newspaper and magazine ads. “It’s working well,” said Zarkin. “It makes sense to do co-marketing between the three entities,” adding that the promotion is not a rebranding. “Even though the marketing campaign is called Vallarta Nayarit it talks about the region,” he said. “Puerto Vallarta remains Puerto Vallarta with its logo. Riviera Nayarit remains Riviera Nayarit with its logo.”

For agents, the Riviera Nayarit Web site features an agent training section, enabling retailers to become Riviera Nayarit specialists. On the air service front, Aeromexico and Delta will be adding flight out of JFK this winter, and Apple Vacations will be offering charter flight from Philadelphia. “That brings much more connectivity,” said Zarkin, adding that Puerto Vallarta is only about a five-and-a-half hour flight from New York. “You leave in the morning, you’re there by one or two o’clock, and by three you’re in your bathing suit with a cold beer or a margarita,” he said.

Source: Travel Pulse, http://www.travelpulse.com/mexicos-riviera-nayarit-region-sees-full-tourism-recovery.html