RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico
-- It was one week before Xcarets Dec. 12 reopening, and the
ecological park was abuzz with activity.
Some 500 workers have
been toiling at Xcaret since Hurricane Wilma struck in October to
not only restore the park to its original state but to make it even
better.
Our structures were
not as strong as wed thought, so we rebuilt them stronger, said
Jose Enrique Narvaez, Xcaret brand manager. We are improving the
park.
The timing of the
reopening was perfect: December marked the parks 15th anniversary.
And the improvements go beyond tidying walkways and putting final
touches on rethatched palapa roofs.
New attractions have
been added, such as large replicas of an aqueduct and a silver
mine, both in the main entrance area.
We are trying to
bring culture from all of Mexico to Xcaret, Narvaez
said.
A recent walk through
the parks lush greenery -- 4,000 species of wild and marine flora
-- revealed a return to normalcy for the wildlife for which Xcaret
is known.
Resident animals,
including pumas, flamingos, howler monkeys and a very calm tapir
named Poloc, had been moved to protective quarters during Wilma but
are now back in their usual, open-air habitats.
And Xcarets dolphins
-- who had missed human contact, according to public relations
manager Iliana Rodriguez -- are eager to play with visitors once
more.
In terms of
infrastructure, only two of Xcarets five restaurants were not ready
for the reopening date. But we have enough [restaurants] to give
the service that people are used to, Rodriguez said.
The 6,000-seat main
theater -- which may host an upcoming Miss Universe beauty pageant
-- suffered ceiling damage that will be completely repaired by Jan.
15, according to Narvaez.
Xcaret continues to
develop ideas for other attractions, as well. For instance, a gum
tree, accompanied by materials illustrating the manufacturing of
chewing gum, will open to the public by the end of 2006.
Changing
perceptions
Xcaret was the site
of Funjet Vacations recent Riviera Maya Live Webcast, which enabled
U.S. travel agents to view video clips showing the current state of
the eco-park, as well as that of the hotels and other attractions
along the Riviera Maya.
Rodriguez said the
Funjet program was part of Xcarets attempt to counter negative
impressions that earlier post-Wilma images of the Yucatan Peninsula
in the U.S. media may have left.
The images that went
out to the world with Wilma were amazing in how harsh they were,
she said. So it was very important for us to show current images of
the Riviera Maya, and to let [travel agents] know that were both OK
and ready to receive visitors.
Travel agents are key
to Xcarets successful reopening, Rodriguez added.
The only way is to
bring [travel agents] down as much as we can to actually see for
themselves, she said. It doesnt matter what we say; we need
spokespeople that have credibility.
For
more information on Xcaret, visit www.xcaret.com.
To contact
reporter Mark Chesnut, send e-mail [email protected].