Clean-up and recovery continues in hard-hit areas of Mexico

By Kenneth Kiesnoski

Nov 03, 2005

MEXICO CITY -- The Mexican federal government is pledging millions of dollars to help destinations in Quintana Roo state, such as Cancun and Cozumel, recover from Wilma, with President Vicente Fox setting a goal of having 80% of resort facilities ready to accept high-season visitors as of Dec. 15.

Mexico City is exempting all investments in storm-affected areas from tax through June, and will allow affected businesses to pay Social Security taxes and utility bills in interest-free installments.

National tourism trust Fonatur will commit $19 million to restore beachfronts and $10 million to infrastructure repair, while some $820 million in bank financing and loans will be made available to hotels and small- and medium-sized businesses in affected areas. In addition, Mexico's finance ministry is encouraging insurance firms to process Wilma-related claims quickly.

Lastly, the Mexico Tourist Board will conduct marketing and public relations campaigns, including specials events to be held Dec. 15 to 22, to get visitors back to Quintana Roo.

Exodus redux

As of Nov. 1, 51,308 tourists had been evacuated from Quintana Roo since Hurricane Wilma hit Oct. 21 -- on 13 flights from Cozumel, 177 flights from Cancun and 97 from Merida, in addition to 150 bus trips from Cancun, according to figures from the Mexico Tourist Board.

Some 2,000 remaining tourists were still to leave Cancun and 5,000 more, the Riviera Maya, at press time.

Six domestic airlines -- Mexicana, Click by Mexicana, Aeromexico, Azteca, Magnicharters and Aviacsa -- restarted departures from Cancun's damaged airport as of Oct. 28, with the first domestic arrivals landing Oct. 29.

Mas informacion

The resorts and attractions in Cancun, Cozumel and other neighboring destinations slammed by Wilma continue cleanup and recovery efforts.

For the latest, most concise updates, visit tourist board sites such as www.cancun.info from the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau or the Riviera Maya Tourism Promotion Board site at www.rivieramaya.com/eng/infocenter.htm.

To contact Destinations editor Kenneth Kiesnoski, send e-mail to [email protected].

Tourists returning to Keys after an unwelcome visit by Wilma

By David Cogswell

KEY WEST, Fla. -- A week after Hurricane Wilma hit the Florida Keys and visitors are allowed to return again.

The storm, which passed over the area Oct. 24, did not leave a great deal of structural damage on buildings on the islands, according to emergency management officials, though several residential areas from Marathon through Key West were hit hard.

Two weeks after visitor evacuations started due to Wilmas impending arrival about 90% of the hotels were open again, according to Andy Newman, a spokesman for the Florida Keys & Key West Tourism Council. However, the tourism industry had already lost an estimated $45 million in sales, based on sales tax revenues during the period of evacuation.

While the storm came ashore near Marco Island, about 100 miles from Key West, the Keys witnessed widespread flooding and several of the resorts in the area suffered landscaping damage to their properties. In addition, some of the areas attractions were temporarily put out of operation.

Now, a week after the storm, the Overseas Highway -- the main route from the mainland -- was functioning normally again; electricity was restored to all but a few isolated areas and the freshwater pipeline was in service.

In addition, Key West International Airport was in full operation. Although its runway lights were not functioning, Florida Keys Marathon Airport was open for charter and general aviation during daytime hours.

Meanwhile, Key West's seaport reopened and received its first post-Wilma ship, Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas.

For updates on the Florida Keys, visit www.fla-keys.com.

To contact reporter David Cogswell, send e-mail to [email protected].