Hurricane Otis caused great damage to the port of Acapulco, one of the most important tourist destinations in the country. Every month, this port located in Guerrero receives thousands of tourists, who have been forced to change their itinerary, choosing Merida as their second option.
This was assured by José Luis Martínez Semerena, head of Merida’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism, who stated that the devastation caused by the meteorological phenomenon, which made landfall on October 24 as a category 5 hurricane, will generate an upturn in the arrival of travelers to the Yucatan capital.
“It is a reality, starting in November and December we will be seeing an increase in tourists due to the unfortunate affectation that occurred in Acapulco and Guerrero, many are changing their plans and we are receiving confirmations for the city of Merida,” commented the municipal official.
Martínez Semerena said that despite a possible wave of national and foreign tourists, Mérida has the capacity to accommodate them all, as he said that in the last three years the city’s hotels have gone from having 10,000 to 14,000 rooms.
“We have the capacity to attend to national tourists, but of course also to international tourists, who have represented an increase from 8 percent when we entered this administration, to almost 16 percent today,” he mentioned.
Rebound in tourism in Merida
Acapulco’s tourism will see Merida as its second option
“Today we are representing an option for those who for some reason have decided to vacation in the beach destination, as in the cultural destination, who can see Merida as an option to stay and to know and enjoy the entire coast,” he added.
The director of Economic Development and Tourism emphasized that this weekend alone, hotel occupancy in Mérida reached 70 percent, also encouraged by cultural activities such as the Festival de las Ánimas (Festival of the Souls). He also said that the Mérida City Hall is not only focused on capitalizing on the attraction of tourists, but is also concerned about the situation of the people of Guerrero, which is why they have opened several collection centers to send water, food, clothing and footwear to the victims.
