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Mexico report
Can cuts fuel recovery?
Six months after swine flu first hit Mexico, Dave Richardson SUPPLIER FEEDBACK.
looks at how the country is dealing with the after effects
Specialist operators say demand for Mexico
remains strong, helped by better availability
of direct scheduled flights.
Mexicana: Mexicana started flying from
Gatwick to Mexico City in February, and now
operates four times a week. Mexicana sales
account manager Frank Valle said: “The new
route started well. Although we were hit by
swine flu, flights were full again by June and
our target is to operate a daily service.”
Kuoni: Kuoni is one of the operators using
Mexicana, but says most bookings are within
eight weeks of departure. Product manager
Karen Walpole said: “Prices are more com-
petitive now and we’ve had great offers in.
We’ve seen signs of recovery for 2010, partic-
ularly at the top end in the Riviera Maya.”
Journey Latin America: Journey Latin
B
ig price reductions are driving “People see swine flu as a way of getting a America product manager Rafe Stone said:
demand for mass market holidays good deal, but hotels haven’t reacted yet for “Public confidence is returning and hotels
to Cancun (pictured) and the summer 2010.” are offering great rates. “It should also be
Riviera Maya, which were hit hard Tui hopes to resume flights to Puerto taken into account that swine flu has spread
when the world’s first outbreak of swine flu Vallarta on the Pacific coast, dropped a few globally. We are now better informed about
broke out in Mexico in April. years ago. The Boeing 787s it has on order who is more at risk and what medication to
Although there were no reported cases in could fly there non-stop, but delivery delays take, so travellers are more relaxed.”
the area, the Foreign and Commonwealth make that unlikely before 2012. Sunvil: Lloyd Boutcher, director of Sunvil
Office advised against all but essential travel Cosmos has made even bigger reductions, Traveller, said: “Bookings for the lesser-known
to Mexico and operators cancel charters. with one holiday down by more than £600 parts of Mexico have remained consistent.
That advice was lifted within three weeks, per person (see panel). The swine flu outbreak has not affected the
but operators did not return for four to six Sara Gelder, head of specialist products, travel plans of our clients, who tend to be
weeks after the outbreak. says: “Cancun is proving a difficult sell for intrepid and adventurous.”
Tui UK, the biggest operator, flies to the remainder of summer and has been
Mexico under its Thomson Faraway Shores priced low thanks to offers from hotels.
and First Choice Tropical brands. “We are seeing a good level of bookings OFFERS
Cancun is now the only Mexican charter for peak Christmas and Easter departures.
Examples of price reductions on offer at time of writing:
gateway as Tui decided to drop flights to However, the remainder of the winter
Thomson: Seven nights at the 5T Grand Palladium Colo-
Cozumel island before the outbreak. season remains slow.” nial Resort and Spa on the Riviera Maya, near Cancun,
Shona Swain, long-haul general manager, The Cancun Hotel Association said occu-
cost from £799 per person all-inclusive from Manchester
said: “We redeployed aircraft to Jamaica and pancy was back to 80% in July, and the appeal
on December 2. This is down by £225 or £450 per couple.
■ thomson.co.uk
the Dominican Republic, and as we focused of Cancun continues to diversify as more
on these destinations, Cancun was always activities become available. A new eco-park,
Cosmos: The all-inclusive Occidental Grand Flamenco Xcaret,
having to play catch-up for summer 2009. Xplor, has just opened. also on the Riviera Maya, is down by £637 per person to
“By the time flights returned, all our The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau
£969 for 14 nights, departing Gatwick on November 2.
hotels were functioning normally. Demand has launched a taxi advertising campaign
■ cosmos-holidays.co.uk
for winter is starting to pick up, but it is with 20 taxis in London and 10 in Manchester
Kuoni: Seven nights at the Cancun Caribe Park Royal
driven by competitive pricing with reductions carrying images of beaches, hotels, activities
Grand cost from £799 room-only, a reduction of £249.
of up to £450 per couple. and Mayan archaeological sites. ■ kuoni.co.uk
“Mexico will come back strongly and UK representative Luisa Uruena said:
become our top long-haul destination again, “The feeling is now positive about the UK
Journey Latin America: A 13-night tour of Mexico’s
Yucatan peninsula starts from £3,307, reduced by £577.
having been overtaken by Florida in summer market. People are not worried about swine
■ journeylatinamerica.co.uk
2009. flu now it is a global thing.”
64 09.10.2009
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