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MEXICO’S MINISTER OF TOURISM RODOLFO ELIZONDO WELCOMES BACK CRUISES AT
THE PORT OF COZUMEL
·This
Wednesday, “Enchantment of the Seas” arrived at Cozumel with
more than 2,446 passengers on board and was received by a special committee
organized by Minister of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo; Governor Felix Gonzalez;
Mayor Juan Carlos Gonzalez and the CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board, Oscar
Fitch.
·Next Friday
“Freedom of the Seas” will arrive to the island with 3,300
passengers on board and on Saturday, “Holiday”
with 1,452, marking the beginning of the economic reactivation of this tourist
destination, considered one of the main cruise ship ports in the world.
·Minister of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo emphasized that after one month
without arrivals, a recuperation of the destination is predicted as well as an
economic stimulus of 580,000 dollars from these three ships.
Photo 1:
Minister of Tourism Rodolfo
Elizondo, Cozumel Governor, Felix Gonzalez; Cozumel Mayor Juan Carlos Gonzalez
and CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board, Oscar Fitch welcome the first ship
to arrive at Cozumel’s port
Photo 2:
Mariachis welcome the
Enchantment of the Seas
Photo Credits: Mexico Tourism
Board
Mexico City,
Mexico;- May 27th, 2009- The Island of Cozumel, in the state of Quintana Roo,
initiated its economic reactivation this Wednesday with the arrival of the
cruise ship “Enchantment of the Seas” with 2,446 passengers onboard
following the health scare in Mexico.
This
Royal Caribbean International ship was received by a special welcome committee
organized by Mexico’s
Minister of Tourism Rodolfo Elizondo; Governor Felix Gonzalez; Mayor Juan
Carlos Gonzalez and the CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board (MTB), Oscar Fitch,
among other government officials.
In
addition, next Friday the ship “Freedom of the Seas” will arrive to
the island with 3,300 passengers on board and on Saturday, “Holiday” with 1,452, marking the beginning of the
economic reactivation of this tourist destination, considered one of the main
cruise ship ports in the world.
Elizondo
emphasized that after one month without arrivals, a recuperation of the
destination is predicted as well as an economic stimulus of 580,000 dollars
from these three ships.
“The
reinstatement of activities in this port is a clear sign of the recuperation
that the tourism sector in Cozumel is experiencing, as well as the rest of the
country, which will allow us to show travelers what President Felipe Calderon
has already mentioned, that Mexico is not only a beautiful country, but is also
a strong country capable of facing the toughest adversaries, and Mexicans are prepared
to give the best welcomes,” commented Elizondo.
In addition, he
emphasized that in the next 30 days they will be expecting a total of 39 cruise
ship arrivals to Mexican ports, with Cozumel
receiving the majority of them at 26.
On the other
hand, the arrival of “Freedom of the Seas,” considered the
largest cruise ship in the world, coincides with the launch of the promotional
campaign “Vive Mexico,”
an initiative developed by the federal government with the goal of reactivating
the tourism sector of the country.
The CEO of the
MTB, Oscar Fitch Gomez, emphasized that the arrival of the "Enchantment of
the Seas," "Freedom of the Seas" and "Holiday," not
only shows that the sector has been reactivated, but also demonstrates the
trust that tourists and international businesses, like Royal
Caribbean International and Carnival, are placing on the tourist industry, its
first class services and the hospitality that Mexicans offer to
all their international visitors.
The Island of Cozumel, known internationally for its
tourism infrastructure, cliffs and snorkeling locations, is one of the first
five cities certified by the Minister of Health as being “free of the
H1N1 influenza virus,” and it is hoped that all activities in this
destination will return to normalcy no later than June 15th.
About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources
of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to
promote Mexico’s
tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the
MTB is Mexico’s
tourism promotion agency, and its participants include
members of both the private and
public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout
North America, Europe, Japan and Latin America. For more information on destinations and online trip bookings
please go to www.visitmexico.com
or www.mexico-update.com .
FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a
story or general travel and tourism information
about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s U.S. Press Room directly at
1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com
or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com
