When clients think of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cancun is likely the first thing that springs to mind. However, there is much more to this region than the popular Quintana Roo resort destination. In fact, Yucatan Peninsula encompasses two other Mexican states: Yucatan and Campeche. We recently spoke to Michelle Fridman, Yucatan’s minister of tourism, about what makes the state a rising star in Mexican tourism.
Yucatan’s historical significance dates back much further than the Maya civilization. Sixty-six million years ago, the meteor that is widely believed to be responsible for wiping out dinosaurs crashed near the Yucatan port town of Chicxulub. As a result, freshwater caves and pools called cenotes have formed along the perimeter of this crater, and they have since been a major draw for visitors to the Yucatan Peninsula. This and many other activities, Fridman says, await tourists in the state of Yucatan.
“We’ve been working on decentralizing the benefits of tourism to make it more inclusive,” Fridman said.
This means that Merida, the state capital, as well as diverse outlying regions home to archaeological sites can benefit from the tourism sector. In 2020, Yucatan’s tourism board will launch new Maya village programs led by local guides that take participants through a variety of historic sites, such as Izamal and Valladolid, in addition to well-known sites such as Chichen Itza. Guests will get to know the local people and be immersed in the distinct cultures of each village by staying in traditional housing. Fridman anticipates that this focus on social and ecotourism will not only sustain the villagers’ way of life by funding it, but also make it thrive.
We’ve been working on decentralizing the benefits of tourism to make it more inclusive.
With the help of private investment, new parks and small hotels — including those fashioned from historic haciendas — will open in Merida and near these villages. Setting the bar is five-star Chable Resort & Spa, a restored 19th-century hacienda, which was named the world’s best-designed hotel by Prix Versailles, a prestigious architecture and design award, in 2017.
Addressing safety concerns, Fridman points out that Merida has been ranked the second safest city in all the Americas, after Quebec City. Therefore, visiting Yucatan is ideal for families as well as clients interested in exploring the rich history and cultural diversity of Mexico. Indeed, there’s something for everyone, from photographing the pink lake of Los Coloradas and scuba diving near old shipwrecks, to tasting the vibrant street food scene in the capital city.
Fridman says that the state of Merida is developing new bus lines with better connectivity throughout the city and airport to accommodate its recently added flights from Tijuana, Toronto, Miami and even Cancun, which is a three-hour drive east in the state of Quintana Roo. Progreso, Yucatan’s cruise port, has seen arrivals double in the past year.
As Yucatan primes itself for more visitors, there’s only going to be more for clients to be excited about when planning their next vacation to Mexico.
The Details
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