In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Rocío González, Director of Operations of the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council.
What are your expectations and objectives for participating in IBTM again this year?
This year, the number of visitors and the number of participants in the Mexican Caribbean grew. We have been working and focusing a lot on everything related to MICE for approximately 10 months, seeking to have a greater presence throughout the world. We have important air connectivity to the destination with the Cancun and Cozumel Airports, and now with our new airport in Tulum, which received its 1 millionth passenger a week ago.
We are focusing a lot on engaging with exhibitors, in particular here at IBTM World we brought 10 exhibitors, hotels and DMCs and we are creating many alliances with meeting planners from Spain, Italy and Portugal to bring events in 2025 and to organize road shows in Europe. It is no longer just about covering America, which we always do, but about executing those actions in Europe by 2025.
A few days ago we launched the Luxury campaign, which includes the luxury segment groups that we have located throughout the Mexican Caribbean and we want to add them to the incentives part, which is the strongest thing that the Mexican Caribbean has.
We are working hand in hand with our luxury hotels, and we have the new airport in Tulum that we are using a lot and we want to strengthen connectivity with Europe to be able to come and do road shows and to take groups from here to our destinations. In addition, the Mayan Train is already operating from Cancun to Tulum.
This year was very strong, the MICE segment for the Mexican Caribbean grew a lot. The government gave the indication to strengthen this segment, and we are competing for congresses that we can host until 2031.
This 2024 was to sow the seed of MICE growth for 2025, 2026 and 2027. We want to have much more presence, attract more events, host all the events we can organize to promote the Mexican Caribbean in MICE.
This year you have not only grown, but you have also added places, right?
Definitely. We want to attract more people and more service providers. All the new hotels that we are going to have, all the openings in 2025 and 2026 are already participating and promoting their convention centers. They will be at these fairs and the Mexican Caribbean pavilions will be seen with more suppliers, with more value chains participating. We are sowing to reap a lot in 2025.
You were talking about the Mayan Train and the Tulum Airport, and today it is important to mention that groups can enjoy different destinations on the same trip.
Now with the Tulum Airport you can make a circuit and this is how it is being promoted, because you can land at the Cancun Airport, be in Cancun, move on the Mayan Train to Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Tulum Airport, and you can fly out home from Tulum.
Or the other way around, they can arrive in Tulum, land, tour the entire Riviera Maya and depart from the Cancun Airport. In addition, the Mayan Train gives them the benefit that now the Tulum station is just one hour from Bacalar, which is a destination with a lot of potential. It is not just sun and beach, it has a lagoon and ecotourism that we are taking great care of.
The Mayan Train opened up the possibilities for us to connect the entire state of Quintana Roo, and this new airport will break records and continue to receive convention groups and tourists from around the world.