Quintana Roo Develops Guide to Promote Cave and Cenote Diving

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Quintana Roo is developing a new guide devoted to cave and cenote diving, part of an effort to broaden the state’s tourism offering beyond sun-and-beach resorts, state Tourism Secretary Bernardo Cueto Riestra announced.

The publication will be folded into the tourism promotion campaigns the state already runs, Cueto Riestra said. Officials want to give greater visibility to the cenotes and flooded cave systems that define the region and to strengthen a segment that requires specialized services and offers travelers something other than conventional coastal activities.

Targeting adventure travelers

Cave and cenote diving appeals to visitors interested in geological formations, crystal-clear water and the underground landscapes that form part of Quintana Roo’s natural heritage. Promoting the activity could widen the profile of the state’s visitors and create new opportunities for businesses tied to adventure tourism, officials said.

According to Cueto Riestra, the segment has the capacity to serve more than half a million tourists a year — a figure that reflects its weight within the local tourism industry.

The guide is also meant to complement the experiences currently offered by hotels, tour operators and other businesses in the Mexican Caribbean.

Beyond the beaches

The initiative responds as well to the state’s interest in using its environmental diversity as a differentiator against rival destinations. Cenotes and cave systems are among the region’s most distinctive natural resources, and officials argue that adding them to a specialized promotion strategy will highlight aspects of Quintana Roo beyond its beaches, hotel infrastructure and seaside activities.

Some details about the scope of the publication have yet to be defined.