Cozumel Wins World Travel Award as Mexico’s Best Beach Destination

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Cozumel has been named Mexico’s best beach destination at the World Travel Awards, a distinction municipal tourism officials say will strengthen the island’s promotion abroad and reinforce its appeal to families and divers.

Elías Farah Ceh, the island’s municipal tourism director, said the official notification arrived on Tuesday, although word that Cozumel was among the nominees had already circulated. Scheduling conflicts prevented anyone from the island from attending the ceremony held in Jamaica.

Farah Ceh said the award confirms Cozumel’s standing with travelers from Latin America, the United States and Canada, and above all with Mexican tourists, who carried the island through the summer with figures above those of other destinations despite a difficult stretch for the sector. He stressed that Cozumel is, above all, a family destination.

Promotion push

Because the prize is international, Farah Ceh said, many people will ask why Cozumel won — attention the island now has to build on. The municipality will step up promotion alongside the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council, the state Tourism Department (SEDETUR) and other authorities so that more travelers reach the island next year.

He said the municipality will attend the DEMA Show in New Orleans from Nov. 3 to 6 at SEDETUR’s invitation. Roughly 15 percent of visitors to Cozumel practice some underwater activity, such as snorkeling or diving, a segment closely tied to sustainable tourism, he said. The delegation will promote the island’s attractions and explain upcoming customs changes affecting dive travelers.

Farah Ceh said officials have met with Gen. Balcázar, who heads the Cancún customs office on which Cozumel’s airport depends, to improve the experience for divers arriving on the island so that they come back and recommend it.

Diving competition grows

Asked whether Cozumel retains its status as a diving reference, Farah Ceh said it does, and that when the subject comes up abroad, Cozumel is always mentioned. But he acknowledged that competition has grown: nearly every Caribbean island has attractive reefs, an international airport and flights, and divers can choose between destinations such as the Dominican Republic, St. Vincent, Roatán or Belize. That, he said, makes it all the more important to keep standing out through good treatment of visitors.