Looking for the hottest spot in Mexico these days? Numbers from the Mexico Ministry of Tourism show that from January to June of this year, Nuevo Vallarta (Riviera Nayarit) received the highest influx of tourists.
According to the data, Nuevo Vallarta's hotel occupancy grew by 6.7 percent compared to the same period last year, and 14.8 percent over 2011. Numbers also indicate that in Mexico overall the average hotel rooms occupied in the 70 main tourist destinations was 194,038 while within the same period last year it was 181,787.
The area known as Riviera Nayarit extends more than 180 miles on the Mexican Pacific coast. This year, the federal government has invested $21.26 million, which will fund more than 10 touristic projects that are currently under construction.
"From the 5,988 rooms available in 2011, the number has already risen to 7,597," the tourism board reports.
To date in 2013, an investment of $70 million has been committed to develop new hotels along Riviera Nayarit's coast.
IBEROSTAR Playa Mita is one of the projects slated to debut this year. The 452-room resort will open in late 2013 in Litibu, located at the north end of the Banderas Bay. The new, all-inclusive property will have two pools, a Kids Club, four specialty restaurants, three bars and meeting facilities. Guest will also have access to the nearby Greg Norman-designed 18-hole championship golf course. This will be IBEROSTAR's 10th property in Mexico.
Tau Resorts is a new development group focusing on creating high-quality timeshare resorts in Pacific Mexico. Two are planned for Riviera Nayarit, one of which will open this year. Tau Resorts Nahui will open in late 2013 with a total of 172 units in two-bedroom configurations. Community amenities will include a village, Beach Club, golf course, hiking trails and oceanfront water sports center.
Finally, the Grand Luxxe Nuevo Vallarta, a Grupo Vidanta resort, opened in February 2010 with 108 rooms. By the end of November 2011, 288 more rooms were added. There is currently a new tower under construction with an additional 144 rooms, which is set to open in November 2013.
Visit www.rivieranayarit.com.