Reviving Puerto Vallarta

puertovallarta

Puerto Vallarta will host a series of festivals and events in November to draw tourists

It's been a rough year for Puerto Vallarta and other regions of Mexico, which were unfairly associated with gang violence occurring in other parts of the country earlier in the year. Then came swine flu, and it seemed like the bottom had fallen out on Mexico tourism.

But Travel Agent believes the destination's resiliency and resourcefulness may lead to a major comeback in November.

November Holds Promise

 

Puerto Vallarta is pinning hopes on November, a month stacked with events, to salvage what is left of the 2009 tourist season.

The city's 15th Annual Festival Gourmet International, celebrating the culinary arts, will be held from November 12-22. The festival will focus on more vanguard elements and some of the highlights include a gala opening ceremony in a private club environment; a gourmet safari consisting of visits to four restaurants to sample dishes prepared by master chefs; the art of chocolate and tea presented by master pastry chefs; expert culinary demonstrations; and winemakers' nights. Visit www.festivalgourmet.com for more information.

The eighth edition of the Vallarta Golf Cup will take place November 15 in some of the most challenging golf courses in the Puerto Vallarta area. The event will attract golfers from Mexico, the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Visit www.vallartagolf.com.

The 54th Annual Sailfish and Marlin Tournament organized by the Club de Pesca de Puerto Vallarta (Puerto Vallarta Fishing Club) will be held from November 11-14. A local tradition for over 50 years, the contest brings together a passionate group of fishermen for three exciting days in some of Mexico's finest waters. Prizes will exceed $300,000 and will be divided among the following categories: Sailfish, Marlin, Tuna and Dorado.

Agents Armed with Knowledge

 

By the end of 2008, 1,301 travel agents had graduated from the PV Pro Specialist Program, an online training program to help agents sell travel to Puerto Vallarta. So far, 4,472 agents have enrolled in the program and 1,457 have graduated. For details on PV-Pro and PV Perks, visit www.pv-pro.com.

By the Numbers

Puerto Vallarta received 3,842,232 tourists in 2008, of which 51.65 percent were domestic travelers and 48.35 percent were international arrivals.

*    Since 2000, the number of visitors to the city has grown 34.96 percent, representing an average annual growth of 3.88 percent.In 2009, 1,007,382 airline seats from the U.S. are planned for Puerto Vallarta.
*    During the first quarter of 2009, 402,777 international passengers arrived at Puerto Vallarta International Airport, a 7 percent drop compared with the same period last year.

*    From January to March 2009, 484,227 passengers arrived at Puerto Vallarta International Airport, a 10.03 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2008.