In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Andrés Martínez, General Director of the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council.
What are your expectations and objectives when you come to WTM?
A lot. For us, the UK is the number one market in Europe. We have good direct connectivity from London. So, in a way, we become one of the main suppliers of tourists. It is always key to meet with important operators, such as British Airways.
Who is with you at the moment? Because we have seen a very significant participation.
Several hotels, many of which have business with the United Kingdom. Even the airport group is here looking for more connectivity. We hope to hear from that sector. And many hotels have come; sun hotels, luxury hotels, all of them are here with us.
We also have some meetings with the company of the Head of the Federal Government's Tourism Secretariat , Josefina Rodríguez, to have some negotiations at the country level, and at the promotion level of all activities and services, such as the Mayan Train.
How is the Mayan Train and its connectivity working?
Today we can already use the train from the Cancun Airport to the Tulum Airport. We already have two international airports connected and this is generating a different flow of tourists. In fact, we are beginning to see that many people land at one airport and return through the other. This is happening in destinations such as Playa del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum itself.
So a different dynamic is being generated within the State's movement. There are destinations that are already very well known, such as Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen. Now there is the possibility of discovering new destinations in the Mexican Caribbean. The train has made movement much easier, it is new and very beautiful, and the stations themselves are themed, so the experience is also on the train.
In addition, it travels at a good speed. In less than two hours it connects from airport to airport. Mobility is key and within the Mexican Caribbean today you can move by road, which is practically a single straight line, and you can also move by train and by plane because there is internal connectivity and an airline that flies from the Cancun Airport to Cozumel, or from the Cancun Airport to Chetumal. So, there is that connectivity by air and through ferries, connecting the three islands.