Cruise lines, concerned about the safety of passengers going ashore, stopped calling in Mazatlan, Mexico earlier this year. It’s been a back and forth between cruise lines, government and tourism officials ever since too. On one side of the issue Mazatlan supporters say the Pacific coast city is safe and far-removed from reported drug cartel violence. On the other side, cruise lines who remain steadfast in their claim, still say that the city is not safe. Put all that on the back burner for a week coming up at the end of October as Mazatlan rolls out the red carpet for experts in the field of travel.
Mazatlan kicks off the fall travel season in grand style with its 2011 Gran Fiesta Amigos celebration, taking place Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. This 17th annual event welcomes the destination’s travel partners to the city, including the wholesalers, tour operators, airlines, incentive companies, journalists, tourism dignitaries and friends of Mazatlan who continue to support the ongoing growth of this seaside destination.
It’s not like if the cruise ships don’t call in Mazatlan that they will close up shop and go home. Mazatlan’s land-vacation, convention and visitors business is growing. In what could be taken for a “Fine, no visitors from cruise ships? There are other ways to get them here” moment American Airlines began service to the area.
Mazatlan (MZT) recently celebrated a new partnership with the launch of American Airlines’ daily non-stop service from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), boosting tourism revenue by more than $15 million and affording new travel options for the more than 2 million travelers who visit Mazatlan each year.
Earlier this summer, the destination hosted the world’s top surf athletes for the Quiksilver Clásico Mazatlan, a four-star event of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) international tour.
Coming up also for Mexico is their Day of the Dead holiday celebration which has nothing to do with cruise ship passengers and everything to do with remembering family and friends not with us anymore.
Day of the Dead focuses on gatherings to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died…but not in a sad, mournful way. Despite its macabre moniker, this is fun. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). The first is for the remembrance of dead children, and the second is for everyone else. Many families will go to the cemetary where their loved ones are buried, and tend the gravesite, perhaps with a picnic. Some construct rather elaborate alters, with photos and momentos of those they wish to remember.
Stay tuned for more on Mazatlan, the spunky city in Mexico that just won’t give up.
Flickr photo by Rochelle, just rochelle
Other related stories…
- Mexico safe says American Airlines, for flying anyway
- Cruise lines play it safe, skip Mexico port
- Mexico safe to visit, for the most part
- Mexico travel safety kind of depends on who you listen to
