During 2017 tourism reached record figures in Yucatan, which confirms the good run that this industry has shown in the region during the last five years.
In the course of 12 months, the Merida International Airport “Manuel Crescencio Rejón” mobilized more than two million passengers, which meant an increase of more than 72 percent compared to the same period five years ago in 2012.
As a result, more than 25 thousand seats are now offered on 215 weekly flights, that is, 66 percent more compared to 15 thousand seats on 172 flights in 2012. This increase in air mobility has allowed this Airport to move from the tenth most important in the country to position number eight.
In particular, conventions and cultural tourism are two of the main areas of opportunity for Yucatan. Regarding the first, the number conventions went from 142 to 248 between 2012 and 2017, which reflects an increase of more than 74 percent.
This represents great benefits for the local economy, because it is evident that Tourism is now an important client for trade and services. According to La Revista Peninsular, it is estimated that while a recreational visitor spends an average of three thousand dollars and has a stay of 1.75 days, a convention traveler spends more than 11 thousand dollars and stays around two and three days.
Centro Internacional de Congresos
Obviously, the new International Convention Center , will add to the infrastructure of connectivity, lodging, logistics services and tourist and cultural attractions of Yucatan. This new facility is a modern space located on Calle 62 between Colón and Cupules avenues. It was officially presented on May 18, 2017, by the Governor Rolando Zapata Bello before leaders of the tourism industry, business chambers and civil associations.
Within this framework, a commercial alliance was announced with Samsung, a world leader in technology and communications. This way, the new International Convention Center, is officially “Powered by Samsung“, which will allow technology, branding and global promotion to be transferred to our state.
At the same time, the pre-sale period of dates for events was formally initiated, resulting on full occupation for the new International Convention Center during the last months of 2018.
Centro Internacional de Congresos (Photo: Revista Peninsular)
This space, features 55 thousand square meters in three levels of construction and six thousand square meters for events on the exterior area. It includes a main hall with capacity for six thousand people, which can split into six rooms for one thousand, or twelve rooms for 500 each.
In addition, it has two additional rooms with capacity for two thousand attendees, that can be converted into eight spaces for simultaneous activities. In addition to all of the above, it is the only facility in Mexico of its kind that is built under the LEED Gold Certification, awarded to facilities that comply with energy and environmental international regulations and policies.
Mérida International Convention Center (Photo: Revista Peninsular)
Without a doubt, this new building will take advantage of a good opportunity to consolidate our state as one of the favorite destinations for conventions tourism. But the State Government is also aware of the fact that Yucatan has a large number of cultural attractions, derived from the historical legacy of the Mayan people.
The interest on the part of the visitors to know this millenarian culture is reflected with the growing affluence to the archaeological sites, which has increased almost by 60 percent in five years. Given this scenario, the main tourist resorts in the state received an investment of 53 million pesos (2.7 million USD), for their modernization, including Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, Loltún and Dzibilchaltún, among others.
Palacio de la Música
The Palacio de la Música will also boost cultural tourism with more places of interest in the city of Mérida, the construction works of the Palacio de la Música are almost done.
Located in the heart of the Yucatecan capital, right on the corner of Calle 58 and Calle 59, just two blocks away from the Mérida’s Cathedral and the Plaza Grande, the Music Palace will become one of the main tourist attractions in the city.
This project is the result of an investment of more than 450 million pesos (22.5 million USD), and will house the National Center for Mexican Music, which makes it a unique building throughout the country, for the wide range of genres and artists that will be performing and exhibiting their work in this facility.
Palacio de la Música (Photo: Revista Peninsular)
It will have eight different virtual pavilions to show the musical history of Mexico, as well as a music library, national video library and concert hall. It will also offer an opportunity for Yucatecan artists to have a space for them to continue creating music and other new artistic expressions.
The two aforementioned works, the International Convention Center and the Palacio de la Música, have made important progress in their respective construction works, and both of them will be inaugurated this year, strongly promoting the tourist development of Yucatán and allowing the state to continue its historic advance in this sector.
Palacio de la Música (Photo: Revista Peninsular)
TYT Newsroom with information from http://www.larevista.com.mx/
