Cruise arrivals shore up tourist promotion for Cozumel

Javier Aranda Pedrero, general manager of the Cozumel Hotel Association, informed that on the eve of the upcoming fall-winter season, the island is getting a big promotional boost both locally and in the peninsula to lure honeymooners to this Mexican destination. A similar effort is underway overseas by stepping up campaigns aimed at scuba-diving buffs with ads in all major international magazines.

The announcement of the promotional blitz coincides with a piece of information revealing that 21 cruises carrying as many as 35,271 passengers will dock in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen in the week from September 16 through 21, the Southeast Consignment and Caribbean Maritime Cruise Agency reportedly said.

The arrival of cruise liners is more and more propping up the tourist industry on this island of the Mexican Caribbean.

In the same breath, tourist packages are being promoted in a joint effort with Mexicana de Aviacion through a program entitled “The Island of Children” whereby adults can travel and lodge free of charge with a kid. As we speak, publicity campaigns beaming at two specific markets are getting stronger, Mr. Pedrero indicated.

Mr. Pedrero also said that as far as local tourism is concerned, they expect to hook honeymooners through a stepped-up promotion of Cozumel in all major specialized magazines like Nupcias, Eres Novia, ¿Quién?, Esposa Joven and Espacio Profundo.

On the other hand, scuba diving is at the center of the publicity campaign in the world stage, now getting beefed up in all major specialized publications under the sun like Scuba Diving.

Mr. Pedrero explained that from this month on through December, special tourist packages that have been available for several months will be promoted through the Cozumel Value Season program.

All these efforts are being conducted with funds handed out by tourist operators interested in promoting themselves and in coordination with the Cozumel Hotel Association, he said.