PESOS FOR CANCUN: 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. And Mexicos 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
Cancuns 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.
TAX-FREE
HAVEN: Mexicos congress passed a tourism ministry-backed
law introducing tax-free shopping for international tourists as of
July 1, 2006. Spearheaded by Mexicos Secretary of Tourism Rodolfo
Elizondo Torres, the law -- which passed with little opposition --
is designed to increase competition in tourism and foster private
investments. It grants foreign visitors full refunds of the retail
tax on purchases of at least 1,200 pesos (about $110), provided
receipts are presented upon departure to airport or seaport customs
officials.