Secretary of Tourism of Mexico announces the reactivation of the air connectivity of Mundo Maya

The Secretary of Tourism of the Federal Government, Miguel Torruco Marqués, announced the reactivation of the air connectivity of Mundo Maya, with new flights between Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico.

He indicated that last June, within the framework of the Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Inter-American Tourism Commission (Citur), of the Organization of American States (OAS), convened by Mexico in its capacity as President, it was reported that the 5 countries Members of the Mundo Maya organization are resuming connectivity in the region, with the support of the Mexican airline Aeromar.

He argued that the nations that make up the Mayan World: Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico should make synergy and work on the creation of innovative products, as well as on their integration, configuring regional tourist circuits that detonate local economies; that include the tourist's interaction with the communities, as part of their experience; and that promote the rescue of archaeological zones and respect for nature, among other actions.

"It is about joining efforts to potentiate one of the areas of the world with the greatest biodiversity, history and culture, so that our visitors, national and international, have a wide range of possibilities to know and enjoy in this enigmatic region," he said. .

The head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) added that the Maya World has great natural and cultural attractions, so in 2019 about 50 million international tourists arrived in these 5 countries, which represented 3.4 percent of the world total. ; while these arrivals generated an expense of 28 billion dollars, equivalent to 1.9 percent of the spill registered globally.

He highlighted that last July a business conference was held in order to integrate the Mundo Maya multi-destination product and promote its commercialization on a continental level.

For this purpose, there was the participation of wholesalers, travel agents and tour operators from the markets of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Panama, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Peru and Argentina.

He argued that without connectivity there is no tourism. For this reason, the reactivation of the connectivity of the Mundo Maya is circumscribed in a comprehensive work plan, which includes the commercialization of the Mundo Maya product.

“As part of this work plan, on December 1 the first stage begins, which integrates the southeast of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. In a second phase, it will continue with El Salvador and Belize. This initiative represents an unprecedented action in the history of such an important program ”, he assured.

Secretary Torruco Marqués highlighted that in 2019 just over 160 thousand Guatemalan tourists arrived in Mexico by air, leaving an expense of 160 million dollars; while Guatemala received 110 thousand Mexican tourists, who spent 91 million dollars.

Also in 2019, almost 38 thousand Honduran travelers arrived in Mexico, leaving an economic spill of 37 million dollars; while 16 thousand 657 Mexicans traveled to Honduras, leaving an expense of 13 million 720 thousand dollars.

Likewise, he emphasized that in our country the Mayan region, which covers an area of ​​242 thousand square kilometers in 5 states: Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Tabasco and Chiapas, is united by a large-scale project, which will be a model of regionalization, sustainability, social inclusion, participatory planning and product integration.

"I am referring to the Mayan Train, an emblematic work of the Government of Mexico, headed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and which will have 19 stations, will travel a total of 1,524 kilometers and will represent a potential of 190 high-impact tourist attractions."

He recognized the directors of Aeromar, ARM Aviación and G Airways, who will participate in this reactivation, for contributing to the consolidation of the tourism sector in the region.

For his part, Danilo Correa Sepúlveda, CEO of Aeromar, expressed that they are very proud to participate in this large-scale project, so ambitious and long-term, since in the Mayan World there is much to show the international, sophisticated and demanding, which demands authentic cultural tourism and which generates economic benefits in the countries of the area.

"How good that Aeromar has the privilege of leading this effort, with allies such as ARM Aviation, which does the operational part, and G Airways, which does the commercial part," he said.

He pointed out that in this first stage, the operating scheme they designed is rotational: three times a week they will fly from Cancun to Flores, where Tikal, the Mayan jewel of Guatemala, is located; from Guatemala to San Pedro Sula, in Honduras, four times a week; and from Guatemala to Flores, with 11 frequencies. 

Kimberly Hernández, commercial counselor of the Guatemalan embassy in Mexico, stated that her country continues to be committed to the objectives and purposes of reactivating tourism through air connectivity, so they see the relevance of transforming Mundo Maya into a destination multi-destination, where a common cultural and archaeological heritage predominates, as well as a common gastronomy and local crafts.

In turn, Ricardo Sagastume Morales, CEO of Mayan Holding Group, stated that tourism and commercial aviation go hand in hand and, therefore, as commercial aviation grows, tourism will increase.

"If commercial aviation does not grow there will be no connectivity, and if there is no connectivity we cannot allow our Mayan World, shared by five countries, to continue waiting for the future," he said.

In his opportunity, Richard Callaway Ayau, general director of ARM Aviation, said that being able to grow hand in hand with Mexico, which has great experience and quality of service, is a great opportunity to involve El Salvador and Honduras, and to grow regionally in the tourism field. 

Francis Arturo Argueta Aguirre, general director of Civil Aeronautics of Guatemala, also participated in the presentation.