In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Bernardo Cueto, Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Quintana Roo.
What expectations do you have when you arrive at the Cancun Travel Mart event?
We arrived with very high expectations of what the Mexican Caribbean, Quintana Roo, represents today for national and international tourism. This event has been positioning itself in recent years with very good results for our industry, where we receive tour operators and travel agents from many parts of the country and the world. Today we strengthen our offer and tourism product that we regularly take to international fairs here in Cancun, the jewel in the crown of the Mexican Caribbean. Here we present the news in our destination and that hotel offer that continues to expand, but also the experiences that we continue to guarantee for millions of travelers.
What does it mean to you to be celebrating your 36th edition of this event?
We are very proud of the consolidation of a tourist destination like Cancun, which is recognized internationally. We will continue to work on promoting tourism with the help of the hotel sector, with the support of the three levels of government in Mexico; the Federal Government, the State Government and our governor Mara Lezama, who is always very attentive to the tourism sector.
We also have the support of the municipalities, the presence of many mayors and presidents who met today at the Cancún Travel Mart makes Quintana Roo strong. The unity of work and the strategy in which we are all immersed in our tourism agenda characterizes us and generates confidence in what we offer and make known.
What have you experienced this year? What are the milestones you want to highlight in 2024?
It has been a 2024 with certain circumstances, with elections in Mexico and the US. There were also problems in international aeronautics with planes being retired for review, and many challenges that we have been able to overcome in this year in which we are going to close with great strength, where we had a great promotion and launched a campaign in which we talked about the new era in the Mexican Caribbean.
This represents many new developments, where we have a new international airport and a train that runs from north to south of our state, new roads, hotels, greater investment, highly innovative products, natural paradises and, above all, 12 tourist destinations that are becoming more established every day and that will encourage us to continue consolidating our tourist offer in 2025.
How do you work internally to promote emerging tourist destinations?
It is a day-to-day job, with a lot of strategy, with an agenda in which not only the Ministry of Tourism itself defines the objectives, but it is also coordinated through an Advisory Council that includes the three levels of government and the business, restaurant, environmental, social and academic sectors of the State.
We have set an agenda and we are gradually meeting these objectives, with the appropriate strategies to position our destinations, to organize the growth of our activity and to diversify our tourism product.
We seek a sustainable and sustainable offer, and to guarantee the safety of our travelers through specific attention with precise elements that allow the existence of tourist service platforms to guarantee the best experience. We direct our efforts towards that and we are working on it every day.
If you had to recommend to an investor today where they should focus their attention in the Mexican Caribbean, what would those destinations be?
We have 12 wonderful destinations, some of which are very mature, such as Cancun, and others which are very well-known, such as Playa del Carmen, Cozumel or Isla Mujeres. Tulum has seen a lot of growth in recent years and many other destinations are in development, such as our capital, Chetumal, or the Mayan coast in Mahahual, which has a lot of investment potential. And, like the island of Holbox, there are destinations which are consolidating at a rapid pace. Costa Mujeres already has 9,000 rooms and will surely grow to around 20,000 according to investment plans and projections.
We are a growing and responsible destination that is of course looking for investment and to create new success stories. We are convinced that the 12 will have a lot of potential in the coming years and that we will continue to take care of our industry, ensuring that tourism is a driver of prosperity for our families, offering the best experiences.
What can you tell me about actions regarding environmental protection and corporate social responsibility?
Today, more than ever, we have to be responsible with what we are doing. There is a lot of development in our state; public and private infrastructure, with new hotels that must adhere to sustainable criteria.
We understand sustainability not only as respect for the environment, our natural resources and the possible coexistence with our biodiversity, but also as a mechanism that allows our people to experience what tourism generates, and that through this value chain we can guarantee them a better quality of life. This is where we must focus all our efforts.
What are your expectations or forecasts for next year?
We have very good expectations for next year, with a precise plan to continue promoting our destinations and achieve historic numbers. This year we will surely reach that historic figure of more than 20 million tourists again and we want 2025 to continue consolidating, but above all in success stories for our people and our tourists, and so that we continue to be recognized as that paradise that invites everyone to dream, enjoy and have the best experience. Today, tourism is experience and the Mexican Caribbean guarantees it.