Travel Agents Hurt by Negative Press
(Acapulco, JG 17 December) Pedro Falcón Moreno, president of the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies, revealed in a press interview connected with an awards ceremony in the School of Tourism that travel agents in Acapulco have suffered a 30% decline in sales this year. He attributed the drop to the negative press concerning violence rather than changes in basic economic conditions. “What is required,” he said, “is to modify our promotional planning for both the short- and medium term.” He also added that other tourist destinations have developed new and more effective promotional campaigns, and that Acapulco needs to catch up with the times. Even though 2010 has shown considerable improvement in the economic factors over 2009, the net results have been worse because of the image Acapulco has received in the press due to drug-related violence.
In spite of the current situation, Falcón Moreno expressed optimism about 2011. Conventions and congresses are on the rise again, and the number of visitors from other parts of Mexico is also increasing. The reports of drug violence affect the smaller and older hotels less than the luxury accommodations, as the former depend more on national tourists and weekend traffic. Hotels that serve mainly international visitors have suffered the greatest impact. The association executive added that everyone hopes that this season will be good, but it is too soon to starting "ringing the bells." “We must continue our promotional efforts in the north of the country and in the US and Canada ... The first charter from Canada will arrive on December 24. We must be ready with clean streets and heightened security for our visitors,” Falcón Moreno added.
