Five years of strong results strengthen tourism in Yucatán

Recently, the destination has been awarded various recognitions that position it as the best in the world to visit during 2024, and this has only been possible thanks to the continuous hard work of the State Government through the Ministry of Tourism Development. (Sefotur) headed by Michelle Fridman Hirsch.

Over the course of 5 years of Administration, Sefotur has diversified Yucatán's tourism offering, by identifying 215 innovative tourism products, which have not only decentralized Tourism, taking it to more communities in the interior of the state, through campaigns such as 365 days and 365 flavors in Yucatán, or projects such as Aldeas Mayas and Camino al Mayab, which in addition to having been awarded, have made it possible to spread the economic benefits throughout the entity.

It is important to note that part of the initiatives that have allowed Yucatán to position itself as one of the best destinations in Mexico in the world, lies in the revitalization of the tourism brand and the promotional actions of the entity at a national and international level. , as well as in investment strategies that include public and private infrastructure such as remodeling projects at Puerto Progreso, the Manuel Crescencio Rejón Airport and the Yucatán Convention Center, Siglo XXI, in addition to the “Yucatán es Color” project in which local artists participated. in different parts of the state with murals.

Regarding connectivity and entry points, air, sea and land in the state, they have been considerably improved over the course of 5 years of administration, Sefotur, in close work with the airlines and Grupo ASUR, has managed to almost double the routes. international airlines with 7 routes currently operating, including 3 new international routes and two more that will begin operating in 2024 (Atlanta and Orlando); in addition to maintaining 13 national routes in operation to date, compared to those that were in operation at the beginning of the Administration in 2018, establishing a series of records in passenger acquisition during 2023, which from January to November, reported an increase of 21.0% with a movement of 3,330,589 passengers (arrivals and departures), compared to the same period in 2022. The year 2022 stands out, which also reached a record figure, with the movement of 3.1 million passengers, exceeding the historical figure of the 2019 that recorded the movement of 2.8 million travelers; Therefore, it is expected that the end of this year will once again have a year with record rates for the Yucatan tourism sector.

Last year, the first air HUB was installed with Viva Aerobus, while at the maritime level so far in the Administration, the Progreso Port has received a total of 25 first arrivals from shipping companies: AIDA Cruises; American Queen Voyages; Carnival Cruise Line; Costa Cruises; Disney Cruise Line; Mystic Cruises; Norwegian Cruise Line; P&O; Compagnie du Ponant; Princess Cruises; Royal Caribbean International and Sea Cloud Cruises.

All the work carried out in the entity has achieved a historic increase in tourism indicators with an increase of 18.1% in overnight visitors and an increase of 54.8% in economic benefits, both indicators compared to the levels they maintained in 2019. in addition to positioning itself in fourth place nationally in attracting private investment in the tourism sector with 31,592 million pesos. Likewise, as of this date, the accommodation offer in the entity (16,431 available rooms) has registered an increase of 22.3% compared to what was observed in 2018.

These results have also been reflected with the arrival of national and international events to the destination, who have trusted not only in the security offered by the state, but also in all the natural and cultural attractions that serve as a framework for large events, some of these were: World Summit of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, Tourist Market, Women's Tennis Open, Smart Cities Expo Latam, National Banking Convention, Latin America's 50 Best, Best Chefs Awards, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, World Cup Karate and CONCANACO Leaders Summit, among others.

In order to improve care services, Sefotur has implemented a training and certification program for tourism service providers, in addition to a Sustainable Tourism Development Plan that came into force since the beginning of the Administration, which is aligned to the UN 2030 agenda, in which a Sustainability Decalogue was established which has functioned as an axis to execute several of the actions carried out in terms of investment, product development, Infrastructure, equipment and professionalization that give strength to sustainability of tourism.

All this combined with the formation of the State Tourism Advisory Council with inclusive participation, in addition to being the first destination to have developed a Recovery Plan Against Covid-19 and a Certificate of Good Sanitary Practices of Yucatán (BUPSY), which they managed to maintain. afloat the tourism industry of the entity during the contingency and which served as a basis for its implementation in other states of the Republic.

And finally, another of the great successes of the Administration is having achieved the appointment of 5 new Magical Towns (Maní, Sisal, Tekax, Motul and Espita), 1 Magical Neighborhood (La Ermita in Mérida) and a nomination of Best Tourism Villages of the UNWTO (for Maní, Yucatán), likewise, an agreement was established between Sefotur-UNESCO-Airbnb to provide training to entrepreneurs and social and community organizations on the importance of preserving the identity and the cultural and natural legacy of Yucatán, seeking to preserve and conserve the Mayan language, Mayan house, Mayan milpa, among others, which are considered heritage products of Yucatán, actions that add to the various recognitions that distinguish the destination's offering. It also highlights the recognition of Sefotur and Michelle Fridman Hirsch as the Best Secretary of Tourism in the country.  

Likewise, it is important to mention the appointments granted by the UNWTO to the State Tourism Advisory Council (CCET), as an affiliate member, and to the Yucatán Tourism Observatory (OTY), as a member of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO), being the second Observatory in the country to obtain this recognition.

The work continues during the Administration and 2024 looks to continue positioning and strengthening Yucatán with the recognition it deserves and the benefits that Tourism offers, always working for sustainable and long-term Tourism.