Can Cancun Win Winter Back? Flights and Flexibility Hold the Key

CANCUN, Quintana Roo — The recovery of tourist demand to the Mexican Caribbean during the upcoming winter season will depend, among other factors, on greater air connectivity, promotional strategies and competitive fares. Although interest in the region prevails, the United States market continues to be strategic and shows changes in travel preferences.

Ximena Villegas, a member of Interval International, a company specializing in vacation exchange with a network of approximately 3,200 affiliated developments worldwide, explained that the United States market continues to be strategic for Quintana Roo. However, as in all sectors, changes in travel preferences have been observed, with some travelers beginning to consider Caribbean destinations due to flight limitations to Mexico.

Villegas mentioned that the limitation of airplane seat capacity is an issue. Although an increase is expected in November that could bolster the rest of the winter season, the Mexican Caribbean and also the Pacific have been affected by the flights issue.

Villegas indicated that this, along with other factors such as sargassum seaweed, has influenced travel decisions. The industry expects demand to begin recovering in late October and throughout November to strengthen the peak winter season, and that is where all the effort is focused.

According to estimates, occupancy rates for December could reach between 78 and 80 percent, while for the first quarter of next year levels of at least 85 percent are expected. These figures are projections and remain subject to confirmation.

Regarding market behavior, it was noted that one of the main changes in the vacation market is the search for greater flexibility, both in dates and in destinations and accommodation conditions.

Previously, travelers used to plan their vacations more than 180 days in advance. Currently, a significant portion of demand organizes trips between 90 and 120 days in advance, although another segment books with only 30 or 40 days' notice.

This transformation has forced the timeshare and vacation club industry to evolve from traditional schemes of fixed weeks and units toward modalities that allow choosing different periods and destinations.

Interval International acts as a link between vacation membership owners and affiliated developments, allowing them to exchange weeks of stay for vacations at other properties in its international network.

The strategy that leads the market to maintain growth levels consists of going beyond offering an attractive price; it involves promoting comprehensive experiences that begin before the visitor’s arrival and continue during the stay. In this effort, the goal is always to ensure that the service offered corresponds to what the visitor receives from the moment of purchase.