Hard on the heels of a successful tourism year to date, Mazatlan tourism officials already are gearing up for winter.
There’s good news already for the Pacific coast resort destination, according to Carlos Berdegue, vice president of the Mazatlan Hotel Association.
New and expanded airlift from U.S. gateways includes 27 twice-weekly Sun Country flights from Minneapolis from Dec. 21 through April 6, 2014, up from 13 a week from Jan. 12 through April 6, 2013; four weekly Delta flights from Minneapolis from Dec. 20 through the first week of April, 2014, up from three a week last season from Feb. 16 through March 30, 2013.
“Those flights on those two carriers represent 9,600 seats from Minneapolis, an increase of 237% over last winter,” Berdegue said.
“We’re off to a good start,” he said. “We have put a lot of effort into our resources to have a strong presence in Minneapolis and its feeder cities.”
The Midwest emphasis reflects an adjustment in tourism strategy for Mazatlan and the state of Sinaloa.
“Fishing, golf and family markets are key target areas for us and represent much of our promotional budget and emphasis,” Berdegue said.
The summer season remains strong, with May and June coming in as “the best ever in terms of visitor numbers,” according to tourism officials.
Bookings for fall are up 18% over last year, and Mazatlan plans to fill the calendar with new cultural programs for visitors, including classical music performances and a Beethoven festival.
“Mazatlan is known as the Colonial City on the Beach, and we want visitors to sample our history and heritage as well as our sun and sand,” he said.
Security concerns in 2011 resulted in new lighting at the cruise port and increased tourist police presence in the historical city center.
“We have new restaurants opening and hotel developments planned, a boost in convention and group business and more programs aimed at bringing agents down to see the destination for themselves,” Berdegue said. “Mazatlan is definitely a destination on the move.”
There’s good news already for the Pacific coast resort destination, according to Carlos Berdegue, vice president of the Mazatlan Hotel Association.
New and expanded airlift from U.S. gateways includes 27 twice-weekly Sun Country flights from Minneapolis from Dec. 21 through April 6, 2014, up from 13 a week from Jan. 12 through April 6, 2013; four weekly Delta flights from Minneapolis from Dec. 20 through the first week of April, 2014, up from three a week last season from Feb. 16 through March 30, 2013.
“Those flights on those two carriers represent 9,600 seats from Minneapolis, an increase of 237% over last winter,” Berdegue said.
“We’re off to a good start,” he said. “We have put a lot of effort into our resources to have a strong presence in Minneapolis and its feeder cities.”
The Midwest emphasis reflects an adjustment in tourism strategy for Mazatlan and the state of Sinaloa.
“Fishing, golf and family markets are key target areas for us and represent much of our promotional budget and emphasis,” Berdegue said.
The summer season remains strong, with May and June coming in as “the best ever in terms of visitor numbers,” according to tourism officials.
Bookings for fall are up 18% over last year, and Mazatlan plans to fill the calendar with new cultural programs for visitors, including classical music performances and a Beethoven festival.
“Mazatlan is known as the Colonial City on the Beach, and we want visitors to sample our history and heritage as well as our sun and sand,” he said.
Security concerns in 2011 resulted in new lighting at the cruise port and increased tourist police presence in the historical city center.
“We have new restaurants opening and hotel developments planned, a boost in convention and group business and more programs aimed at bringing agents down to see the destination for themselves,” Berdegue said. “Mazatlan is definitely a destination on the move.”
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