Mexico is planning to welcome travellers starting in June, focusing on areas where the coronavirus pandemic has been controlled. Initially, domestic tourists will be permitted to travel across the country, followed by visitors from the US and Canada, subsequently opening to the rest of the world.
Although Mexico’s land border with the US will remain restricted to essential traffic until June 22, various regions have started lifting ‘shelter-in-place’ recommendations since mid-May. As a result, essential businesses, restaurants, and cafes are reopening, positioning these regions to welcome international tourists once again. Consequently, Gloria Guevara, CEO of the World Tourism and Travel Council, mentioned in an interview with CNN, “the target is domestic travellers first, followed by travellers from the US and Canada, and then the rest of the world.”
A significant tourism campaign is underway, featuring the slogan “See You Soon” showcased in YouTube videos to remind travelers of the experiences awaiting them. Moreover, airlines like Delta and Southwest are gearing up to resume some US to Mexico services by early June.
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo, known for popular destinations like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Isla Mujeres, is making preparations for tourism operations to restart around June 8 or 10. Governor Carlos Joaquín is advocating for tourism to be recognized as an “essential activity” by the federal government, enabling resorts to implement enhanced safety protocols.
Delta aims to renew flight services connecting Atlanta to Cancún in June due to increased “customer demand,” while Southwest plans to restart its services to Cancún from Houston, Denver, and Baltimore/Washington on June 7.
Los Cabos
The Los Cabos tourism board has outlined a five-stage plan for safely reopening to tourists, incorporating health screenings to assess risk factors, physical distancing, and hygiene protocols. Many hotels are set to accept domestic travellers by July, and tourism companies are working to secure the new Clean Point (Punto Limpio) certification to promote safe travel, as reported by the Los Cabos Hotel Association. Furthermore, international travel could gradually resume by August or September, starting with visitors from the US, and expanding to include travellers from Canada and other regions by October to December. The objective is to recover 80% of bookings and 60% of air connectivity by early 2021.
In a recent statement, Visit Los Cabos assured, “Los Cabos is Mexico’s top travel luxury destination. This destination has established comprehensive health and safety guidelines to ensure the wellbeing of all travellers while maintaining its outstanding service and high-quality standards.”
Additionally, Southwest plans to restore flights from Houston and Denver to San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos by June 7, with services from Phoenix commencing on October 8.
