Number of passengers disembarking in Mexico reaches an all-time high
http://www.traveldailynews.com/new.asp?newid=21410&subcatego...
Got Yoga will cruise
By Rania Deimezi
March 09, 2005
Cruises to Mexico aren`t what they used to be...they`re much, much more. Whether you`re single or married, gay or lesbian, with or without children,
on a low-carb diet or abandoning it, blind, a nudist, or just a die-hard Disney fan, Mexico has the cruise for you. While millions of tourists flock
to Mexico every year by land and air, the country has also become the world`s top cruise destination, with cruises becoming more popular and lifestyle
specific.
According to recent statistics released by Mexico`s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), some 7.6 million passengers arrived to Mexico`s ports in 2004,
representing an all-time high and a 15 percent increase from 2003. The most popular port is by far on the island of Cozumel, located just south of
Cancun in the Mexican Caribbean. According to Mexico`s Communications and Transportation Secretariat, 1304 ships arrived to Cozumel in 2004, carrying
some 2.86 million passengers. The second most popular port is Cabo San Lucas on the Baja California peninsula, which received 286 ships, carrying more
than 510,000 in 2004.
Mexico boasts two dozen port cities. Apart from Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan are the most popular ports along
the Pacific coast, while Costa Maya in Quintana Roo State and Puerto Progreso in Yucatan State are the most popular on the Caribbean side. In addition
to being bustling metropolises in their own right, offering the best in shopping, cultural activities and cuisine to the traveler, most ports are also
located just a stone`s throw from the country`s leading archaeological treasures and other attractions. Part of the popularity of cruises can also be
attributed to the traveling public`s desire to experience more destinations in one vacation, with most cruises offering stops in at least three or
four different destinations.
According to Sectur, in the past two decades the number of cruise ships stopping in Mexican ports has increased dramatically, with most major cruise
lines now serving the Gulf, Central Pacific and Caribbean, having incorporated these popular destinations into their itineraries.
As the number of cruise passengers increases, the demand for a variety of services and themes have also increased, what the cruise industry often
refers to as lifestyle cruises.
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