Mazatlan offers the conveniences of the city and the beauty of the sea. // © 2013 Mazatlan Tourism Board
In the last three years or so, the media hasn't been particularly kind to Mazatlan, Mexico. But as I learned at a recent event hosted by the state of Sinaloa __ all that is about to change. According to the governor of Sinaloa, Mario Lopez Valdez, the crime rate in Mazatlan is down by 85 percent. There hasn't been an incident involving tourists in the past two years and, during that time, arrivals have increased to 5 million visitors.
Major cruise lines __ including Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises __ are back on board, and increased airlift from major U.S. hubs have also made Mazatlan more accessible than before.
Indeed, consumers can expect to hear more about Mazatlan and the state of Sinaloa this year. The state has allocated $11 million to spend on tourism promotion in the U.S. and Canada with the message that the colonial city by the sea is back in business.
