Tag Archives: 2011/2012

Is Travel to Mexico Safe? Judging from the Numbers, Many are Saying ‘Yes’

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Is it safe to travel to Mexico?If you’d like to take a trip south of the border for a little fun in the sun this year, don’t let those news reports put you off. Mexico, like any other country including the U.S., has isolated areas that are dangerous for anyone, but most of this friendly destination is perfectly safe for tourists. In fact, Mexico saw a tremendous growth in international tourism during 2011.

The Numbers Never Lie!

If you’re still not convinced, take a look at these numbers:

  • 3.4 percent more Americans and 3.7 percent more Canadians visited Mexico in 2011 compared to 2010.
  • German tourism jumped by 8.4 percent, Argentinean by 23.6 percent and French by 5.8 percent.
  • In the first half of 2011, 10.3 million Americans visited Mexico. This accounted for 36 percent of all international travel by United States citizens during this time period.
  • Over the same six months, only 5.2 million Americans traveled to Europe, and 3.2 million visited the Caribbean.

Of course, most of these adventurous travelers had the time of their lives and never felt threatened in any way during their stay. With beautiful beaches, exotic ruins and wonderful food, it’s no wonder that more and more people are living it up in Old Mexico!

Be Smart and Be Safe

Whenever you’re traveling, it’s important to take certain precautions to protect your safety. This is true whether you spend your vacation at a nearby campground or i

n a posh resort. Here are a few tips to follow during your stay in Mexico:

  • Know Your Destination – Before you leave home, do a little research. This can alert you to any danger zones as well as help you learn the local customs. Here’s another tip: Rely on an experienced travel agent who really knows Mexico for the best advice.
  • Leave Your Valuables at Home – Pack light and leave your fancy jewelry and expensive watches at home.
  • Don’t Flash Your Cash – Only use ATMs in safe areas and put your money away immediately.
  • Check In Frequently – Leave a copy of your itinerary with someone back home and check in frequently. While you’re away, don’t share your exact plans with even the friendliest stranger.

If all else fails, consider one of the guided tours offered by Journey Mexico. With this plan, you’ll see the highlights of this beautiful country while having the added security of group travel and a leader who knows the ins and outs of this exciting area. Give us a call today to book your next trip!


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Top Travel Destinations Worldwide for 2012 Include Mexico’s Tulum, Chichen Itza and Chiapas

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CNN Travel recently asked the top travel experts from Orbitz, Lonely Planet, Smarter Travel and Altour for their picks for 2012. With all the recent publicity about the impending end of the Mayan calendar, it should come as no surprise that this part of Mexico, including Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Chiapas, tops the Top Travel Destinations in the World for 2012!

If you’d like to soak up the sun on an unforgettable trip to the Maya World, here are a few examples of what you might experience during your stay:

Chichen Itza – One of the New Seven Wonders of the World!
No trip to the Maya would be complete without touring the most famous ruins in Mexico. Let Journey Mexico show you the way to a private entrance where our expert guide can lead you directly to the most interesting features of this ancient city. After a leisurely lunch, spend the afternoon exploring the ancient temples of Coba, a relatively new discovery with more than 6,500 unexplored structures.

Edzna and Uxmal – Plus a Tequila Tasting!
On a different day, experience the magic of the ceremonial sites and religious temples of Edzna. Nestled within the jungle, this set of ruins houses the Platform of the Knives, the Big House and the Gran Acropolis. Once you’re done, enjoy a traditional Mexican meal before reaching Uxmal, one of the best examples of Puuc architecture in the world. As you roam through the temples, your guide will explain the intricacies of the ancient society that once called this city home. Finish off your day with some of the best Tequila in the world as you learn more about one of Mexico’s most important products.

The Biosphere Reserve of Celestun
Leave the ruins behind and discover a part of Mexico that’s full of life! This protected area contains one of the nation’s largest wetland areas. Among other wildlife, you’ll get a chance to see one of the largest colonies of charming Pink Flamingos. Afterwards, enjoy your midday meal in the shade at one of the local beachfront restaurants.

Enjoy the Riviera Maya!
Spend a day or two in luxury before or after your tour of the ruins! Relax by the pool, snorkel in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters, shop for souvenirs and sample the local cuisine. No matter how you decide to spend your time in the Riviera Maya, this will give you a complete picture of the pleasures this part of Mexico has to offer!

Of course, these are just a few examples of how Mexico earned a top spot on CNN Travel’s list of top destinations for 2012. If you’d like to learn more about what you can see and do in Mexico in the coming year, contact Journey Mexico for more information.

10.4 Million Tourists Expected to Visit Mexico in Final Two Weeks of 2011

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Source: Marca Pais - Imagen de Mexico

#MexicoToday: Approximately 10.4 million tourists are expected to visit Mexico during the last two weeks of 2011, according to estimates announced recently by Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara Manzo.

The Mexican newspaper Excelsior reported that 10.4 million national and international visitors will vacation in Mexican tourist destinations between December 16, 2011 and January 2, 2012. This statistic represents a 4 percent increase over the same time period last year. Approximately 60 percent of these tourists will vacation in Mexico during the final week of 2011.

Wondering how accurate their predictions might be? Take our growing travel company, Journey Mexico, for example. Agreeing with the estimates announced by the Secretary of Tourism, our December 2011 figures show a 5% increase in passengers travelling to Mexico compared to last year. Things are looking even better as 2012 approaches, bookings for the coming year are up 64% over this same time last year!

MexicoToday will celebrate end-of-the-year tourism with the special hashtag #10millionTourists. Visitors to Mexico are encouraged to follow @MexicoToday on Twitter and use the hashtag to share their vacation stories.

 

 

Traveling to Mexico in 2012: The Mayan Calendar Challenge!

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Chichen Itza Mayan Calendar 2012Don’t be taken in by hyped-up claims that the world is ending in 2012 or that this is what the Mayans predicted thousands of years ago. The media and movie industry have purposely misinterpreted this historical information to attract attention, boost ratings, and scare school children. Once you understand more about this misconception, you’ll be ready to visit charming Mexico to celebrate the beginning of a whole new cycle and take the Mayan Calendar challenge!

The Real Deal on the Mayan Calendar
The Mayans, an ancient civilization that existed in southern Mexico and much of Central America from 250 to 900 A.D., used two different calendars. The first, the Calendar Round, covered a 52-year period, or 18,980 days. At that time, this period represented a single generation or the average lifespan of a typical person of that age. This was the measurement tool that this culture used on an everyday basis.

If the Mayans needed to refer to a date that was more than 52 years in the past or future, they moved to the “Long Count,” the long-term calendar. This measurement tool is based on a numerically predictable algorithm that used a beginning date of 3114 B.C. according to our modern calendar. From there, they calculated forward for 5,126 years for an ending date that just happens to be in 2012 A.D. This gave the Mayans a historical measure that reached over 3,000 years into their past and more than 1,000 years into their future.

If you think about it for a few minutes, common sense will tell you that it’s only a coincidence that the calendar is running out in 2012 A.D. The Mayans didn’t predict the end of the world; they just got tired of crunching the numbers. After all, the world existed long before the calendar started, so why shouldn’t we expect it to last long after the calendar ends? This doomsday theory has no more credibility than any of the countless end-of-the-world claims that have been proven false in the past.

Don’t Let the Doomsday Gang Ruin Your Plans
What could be better than leaving the naysayers and pessimists behind to celebrate the beginning of a whole new cycle in the very place that started all this controversy? The Mayan Long Count Calendar is scheduled to end on December 21 of next year, and Mexico is warm and sunny at that time of the year! To make this trip even more attractive, you can bet that the locals are planning quite a few festivals and fiestas to celebrate their continued existence as well as the upcoming holidays!

How can you resist the chance to snap a souvenir photo to prove you survived the “End of the World” in a beautiful Mexican paradise? Whether you’re partying on the beach or living it up in Mexico City, you’ll be able to tell everyone how you won the Mayan Calendar challenge!

Still doubtful? Well, you’re not alone. On Thursday, Mexico’s archaeology institute  acknowledged that a second reference to the date exists on a carved fragment found at a southern Mexico ruin site.  Here’s a link to the full article!

Mexico Tourism: Facts & Statistics

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The following information information comes directly from The Mexico Tourism Board

  • Mexico continues to be a destination of choice for many people around the world and is currently Ranked 10th globally in international visitor arrivals
  • Mexico remains the most visited country by Americans
  • In August 2011 Mexico saw an increased number of visitors from 145 countries around the world (year on year).
    Brazil (59.5%)         Russia (55%)         Ecuador (29.6%)        Australia (22.6%)
    Argentina (21%)     UK(19.6%)             Korea (18.9%)            Chile (15.9%)
    Peru (15.1%)           China (14.2%)       Italy (13.1%)               Japan (10.6%)
    Canada (9.2%)        Colombia (8.7%)
  • From January through July 2011 year on year, 11,440,000 international tourists traveled to Mexico, a 3.3 percent increase year on year. At this rate, Mexico expects to receive a record number of international foreign visitors in 2011, trumping our previous high of 22.4 million achieved in 2010.
  • May 2010 vs May 2011 (year on year statistics) – International air arrivals increased from the following countries: Brazil – 42.4 percent, Russia – 30.5 percent, China – 24 percent, Korea – 18.5 percent,Australia – 16.7 percent, Canada – 15.8 percent, United Kingdom – 15.8 percent
  • Year on year from January to May 2011, hotel occupancy rates increased by 2.3%.
  • April 2010 vs. April 2011 (year on year statistics)
    International Visitors Tourism Spend increased by 3.0%
    International Visitor Arrivals increased by 8.1%
  • According to SECTUR, tourism investment in Mexico for Q1 of 2011 is up 127%.
  • Approximately USD$1.5 billion will be spent on new hotel developments in Mexico.
    (Four new hotels in Queretaro, Los Cabos, Huatulco, and Mayakoba built by US chains.)
  • Over the first quarter of 2011 various European, American, Canada and Latin American carriers all noted makeable increases in the number of passengers carried into key Mexican hubs including:
    European Carriers:  British Airways (122.2%), France XL (150%), Lufthansa (22.7%), KLM (12.8%
    American Carriers: Delta (79.4%), United Airlines (51.5%)
    Latin American Carriers: Avianca (131%), Taca (77.7%), LAN (45.3%), Cup (37.2%), Cubana (27.9%)
    Canadian Carriers: Sunwing (98.7%), West Jet (43%), Air Canada (17.5%), Air Tranast (15.3%)

While there are current security and safety concerns, it is important that travelers get to know the “untold” story of Mexico.

  • There are many exciting developments happening in Mexico each and every day. Across various categories from tour operators, airlines, resorts, cruise lines and attractions, the first three months of 2011 has been proven to be a time of growth and continued prosperity.
  • There could not be a better time to visit Mexico.   Mexican tourism destinations have lower crime rates than many other prominent tourist destinations.
  • Travelocity ranked Cancun #3 and Puerto Vallarta #8 in its top ten summer family destinations for 2011.
  • Cancun was ranked the number one international destination on the Orbitz Insider Index Summer Travel report.
  • According to a June 2011, Conde Nast Traveler poll, Mexico has 19 of the top 250 spas, globally.
  • Mexico has a total of 18 AAA Five Diamond Awards, including two new lodgings and one new restaurant in January 2011. This is a further testament to Mexico’s longstanding reputation as a travel destination offering top-quality, unique and best-in-class resorts and hotels. The La Blanc Spa Resort in Cancún and Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort Riviera Maya join 12 other Mexican hotels to have already earned this distinction, giving Mexico a total of fourteen AAA Five Diamond Awards.
  • Riviera Maya, Mexico and two Mexican hotel properties have been recognized with a top travel destination award from Travel Weekly.   Also, several Mexico hotels were selected by Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2011, Travel + Leisure World’s Best Hotels 2011 and Loreto, Mexico made The New York Times list of 41 Places to Go in 2011.
  • Mexico by the Numbers – in 2010 – there were 22 million tourists; 50 million-border crossings and 6 million cruise passengers that visited Mexico.
  • Mexico is the top destination for overseas American tourists, registering a market share of 14.7 percent in 2010, according to US Commerce Department figures. This share is historic and represents the highest recorded since 2005.
  • Mexico is a leader in sustainable tourism. The Mayakoba Resort on Mexico’s Riviera Maya was awarded with the prestigious Ulysses Award from the United Nations World Tourism Organization in 2011. In the ‘Innovation in Enterprises’ division, Mayakoba garnered the award for ‘Responsible Tourism Development’. Also in 2011, the Mayakoba Resort received recognition from the Rainforest Alliance for achievements in sustainable tourism.