Meagan Drillinger
In the past month, the state of Yucatan has made tremendous strides in its recovery process. As of Sept. 1, the state restarted tourism activity in its cenotes, haciendas, tourism routes and convention centers, and it has increased hotel and restaurant occupancy. Most recently, on Sept. 22, Chichen Itza was reopened to the public, with limited capacity. It joined the Mayan sites of Uxmal, Xcambo, Mayapan, Izamal and Ek Balam, which have been open since Sept. 14.
"Yucatan's government has been conservative in terms of taking care of health issues during Covid-19," said Michelle Fridman, Minister of Tourism for the state of. "It's been hard for the industry, since we literally closed everything for four months. We began our reopening about three months ago, but very slowly. September was the month when we really reopened the state."
Now, almost 80% of products are available for tourists, from archaeological sites and cenotes to tours, hotels and restaurants, all at 50% capacity. Chichen Itza is limited to 3,000 guests per day.
Yucatan has launched a website dedicated to showcasing new products and experiences. The website also has a microsite that is a reference for all Covid-19 information, including what products are open, what remains closed and what restrictions are in place.
As part of the reopening process, the state of Yucatan requires all visitors and locals to wear a mask. "We cannot force it, but we are constantly inviting [everyone] to, through people who work in the tourism industry as well as the police. We ask visitors to be respectful of our rules, because we want to keep them and us safe."
For travelers who are concerned about social distancing and navigating the new travel space, Yucatan is a really compelling option because so much of what it has to offer is outside, making it perfect for individual experiences in a socially responsible way.
More on the horizon
Yucatan tourism has been on the rise slowly and steadily throughout 2019. It was all about to come to full fruition earlier this year when Merida was slated to host the annual Tianguis Turistico. In 2019, the destination received more than 3.2 million visitors, which translates to a 14.5% increase in overall arrivals and a 26.9% rise in international visitors over the previous year. Though those numbers declined due to the pandemic, the first two months of 2020 were showing positive numbers. Tianguis Turistico will be held in the destination in 2021.
In its most popular beach destination, Progreso, the Ministry of Tourism has invested nearly $2.7 million in infrastructure developments. More than 40 additional cruise ship visits from different companies were completed for 2020 and 2021.
Yucatan state is a microcosm of the very best its namesake peninsula has to offer.
The American Airlines nonstop flight from Miami to Merida has relaunched, as well. A new flight from San Diego to Merida was brought on in September, and flights from Houston will return this month. All flights with Aeromexico are back on.
The convention center will reopen in mid-October, so that meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) travel can resume.
"We are really strong in the MICE industry," said Fridman. "We're also a very attractive destination for weddings, but we do have other segments, from nature and adventure to beaches, culture and archaeological sites.
"Yucatan is the safest place in Mexico," she added. "But now we are a reference in terms of biosecurity. The hotels and guides have all been in training because we want to be a reference in terms of biosecurity and to inspire the safety for visitors."