Mexico Complains Of Mask-Less Tourists, Closes Ruin Site Chichén Itzá

(AP) — Authorities in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula complained Friday about tourists not wearing face masks, as Mexico braces for a surge of Easter Week visitors.

The acting police chief of the Caribbean coast state of Quintana Roo patrolled the streets of the resort of Tulum, reminding people to wear their masks and complaining about how few people did.

“It is regrettable to see how undisciplined things have become,” said Lucio Hernández Gutiérrez. “It was truly frustrating to see hundreds of people walking around without face masks,” noting that tourists were the worst offenders.

“It really is embarrassing that we have to get to this point, of asking people (to wear masks), when we should be conscious of the risks we face,” he said.

Federal authorities have decided to close the Chichén Itzá Maya ruin site in neighboring Yucatan state from April 1-4 to avoid the possible spread of coronavirus. The sprawling temple complex is Mexico’s second most-visited archaeological site, and usually draws about 1.8 million visitors per year.

And for the second year in a row, Latin America’s most famous re-enactment of the crucifixion of Christ will be held without spectators in Mexico City. The multi-day ceremony will be broadcast instead.

The spectacle had drawn about 2 million spectators in recent years, but authorities said such big crowds would be too risky during the pandemic.

The detailed performance has played out in the borough of Iztapalapa since 1843, but was closed to the public in 2020 for the first time in 177 years because of the virus. It was first performed in 1843 after a cholera outbreak threatened the then-rural hamlet.

State of Yucatán Continues Tourism Reopening With High Standards Of Bio-Security

During September, the state of Yucatán took a giant step in its reopening of tourist activities, operations in congress and convention centers, and increased capacity in hotels and restaurants

 During September, the state of Yucatán took a giant step in its reopening of tourist activities, operations in congress and convention centers, and increased capacity in hotels and restaurants

MÉRIDA, Yucatán — The state of Yucatán entered the second phase of its tourism reactivation plan in September, successfully reopening cenotes and archeological sites, including Chichén Itzá; most tourist activities and tours; and haciendas, hotels and restaurants, along with limited operation of its congress and conventions centers — all under strict compliance with new sanitary measures and regulations. All businesses must be certified with the Certificate of Good Sanitary Practices developed by the Ministry of Tourism of the state of Yucatán and undergo an on-site review of their facilities by the Yucatán Health Secretariat (SSY). The certification program was approved by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and its “Safe Travels stamp” effort.

To date, more than 1,200 companies and tourist sites in the state of Yucatán have registered to obtain the certification, with 400 already completing the process — after which they also obtain the WTTC Safe Travel stamp. It’s recommended prospective visitors visit website Yucatan.travel/certificado-bupsy, where they can find in detail the activities and certified operators with whom they can plan their visit to Yucatán.
On Sept. 7, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) started to open archeological sites found across the state, including iconic Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, at limited capacities. Yucatán’s meetings and conventions sector will start its reactivation, gradually and also with limited capacity, starting Oct. 12.

As part of the reactivation campaign, the Ministry of Tourism, which is headed by Michelle Fridman Hirsch, maintained active communication with heads of different local, national and international tourism entities to keep the destination top of mind as tourism beginning to reopen. A promotional campaign was launched, with destination presentations to wholesalers and retail travel agencies. In addition, a public relations campaign was maintained to continue the destination’s position within the domestic Mexican market, while a U.S. and Canadian campaign aimed at communicating the steps of the reopening process, as well as the latest news from Yucatán, is planned.

One of the most important activities the Ministry took part in this year was the first-ever digital edition of Mexico’s annual Tianguis Turístico travel trade confab. During the event, the state of Yucatán gave two keynote conferences, presented a new brand and website, and presented both its tourism offerings in its different geographic regions and its reactivation campaigns. The Yucatecan delegation, made up of 90 representatives, made 3,027 business appointments and an estimated 150 additional appointments after the Tianguis Turístico Digital. Three Yucatecan companies were winners of the "Recognition for the Diversification of the Mexican Tourism Product 2020" award granted by Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism of Yucatán has also remained in permanent contact with airlines, supporting their promotional strategies in order to contribute to the recovery of destinations and flight frequencies. To the date, 108 of the 213 flights that operated last February, prior to the Covid-19 crisis, have been recovered, representing just over 50% of frequencies on domestic flights, and the recovery trend is expected to continue with more frequencies soon to be added in October. One of particular importance is the daily flight from Miami International Airport with American Airlines, which will once again connect the U.S. and Canada with Mérida.
 
Mérida International Airport is operating more than 100 weekly flights with different airlines that have placed their trust in the state, thanks to its work to remain a safe destination, and have decided to increase and re-incorporate routes and frequencies to Yucatán.
 
Interjet recently unveiled the new Mérida-Tuxtla Gutiérrez-Mérida route with a weekly frequency. Volaris has increased its weekly flight frequency Mexico City-Mérida from 14 to 16 flights. From Guadalajara-Mérida, Volaris will increase from three to four while maintaining its frequencies with Monterrey (two flights) and Tijuana (two flights). Aeroméxico raised the number of weekly flights from 33 to 40 from Mexico City to Mérida, while VivaAerobus will increase its weekly frequencies from seven to 12 on its Mexico-Mérida route and will increase one flight on its Monterrey Mérida route, preserving its weekly flight frequencies Guadalajara-Mérida (three flights), Veracruz-Mérida (two flights) and Tuxtla-Mérida (two flights).
 

 
The State of Yucatán is a state rich in diversity of natural, cultural and heritage attractions. Impressive cenotes and 378 kms of beautiful beaches, a wide and varied fauna; archaeological sites with worldwide relevance such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, a cultural mosaic where the living culture of the Mayas stands out; vast and exquisite gastronomy, colonial cities, magical towns, culture and much more. It connects directly with some of the main airports within Mexico and internationally with the cities of Havana, Miami, Houston, and Toronto. For more information, please visit yucatan.travel.