Mazatlán is reporting strong results from a tourism plan the destination implemented since the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) was disbanded: from January through September, the destination’s marketing campaign drove 19 percent year-over-year growth in hotel visitation and 10 percent growth in airport arrivals, leading to record tourism, primarily from the United States and Canada.
Following the disbanding of the MTB, Mazatlán established a marketing and promotion campaign aimed at attracting travelers from the United States and Canada. As part of the effort, the government partnered with the destination’s hotel association to promote Mazatlán in cities in the U.S. and Canada with direct flights and easy connection options, as well as partnered with airlines to open new direct flights.
“We are currently seeing double digit tourism growth as a result of our new marketing and promotion campaign,” said Óscar Pérez Barros, Secretary of Tourism for the state, in a written statement. “Airport arrivals are up, hotel occupancy is up, and we are expecting another strong season as we head into the winter months.”
From 2017 to early 2019 the local government has invested $400 million in infrastructure along with $1.2 billion private investment, which has resulted in new construction and attractions. Most recently, Mazatlán announced the new beltway that intersects with the Durango highway that will connect the airport with the newest tourist area of the destination, located by Marina El Cid and Marina Mazatlán. This new beltway will significantly shorten time to and from the airport.
Additional investments include the renovation of El Faro (lighthouse), the newly built Sister Cities Square, the renovation of Olas Altas Drive, the renovation of the Malecón (boardwalk) where a bike path was added, an update of the Historic District in its original architectural style, the total renovation of the professional baseball stadium, the construction of a new soccer stadium, and the construction of Parque Central (Central Park) which will include the new Sea of Cortez Aquarium and a new museum, among other investments.
The destination is also looking forward to additional cruise ship calls from Royal Caribbean and new flights from Sun Wing.
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