GUATEMALA’S GROWING CRUISE INDUSTRY MAXIMIZES REVENUE POTENTIAL
One of the reasons to visit Guatemala this year lies within their cruise offering, which allows passengers to experience just enough about the country’s culture, gastronomy and exotic nature to lure back approximately 70 percent of visitors for a longer stay, according to data published by INGUAT (Guatemala’s Tourism Board).
“Guatemala has received approximately 218,328 cruise passengers over the past few years, 98 percent of them recommend the destination,” said Pedro Duchez, director of INGUAT. “A large part of our work has been focused on the promotion of this sector by strengthening our infrastructure and increasing our offshore offering,” he added.
Part of the path taken by INGUAT to promote this segment, has been strengthening regional ties with Mexico, Costa Rica and Nicaragua, efforts that gave way to the Mesoamerican Route introduced in January 2014. This has significantly increased the country’s visibility among cruise industry professionals. As a Platinum Member of the FCCA (Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association), Guatemala has also been the host of cruise industry events such as the Conference of Platinum Members in Antigua and the 2ndCruise Summit of Central America in 2013.
An upward trend in cruise ship arrivals in Guatemala was documented by the FCCA showing a 5 percent increase for the 2014-2015 season. The country received 79 ships, 2 new cruise lines and 5 new ships from 17 different Cruise Lines. Some of the Cruise Lines operating in the country are: Azamara Club Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Regent, Oceania and Royal Caribbean. Guatemala received a total of 69 arrivals during the 2013-2014 season, hosting 80,864 passengers mostly from the United States and Canada.
What’s most unique about Guatemala is the diversity offered at each port. The Santo Tomas de Castilla Port, located on the Atlantic coast, offers visitors a quick gateway to the UNESCO declared Mayan ruins of Quirigua. Attractions like Rio Dulce are some notable places to explore. Approximately 60 percent of the ships dock on the Pacific side at Port of Quetzal, offering visits to Antigua and the black-sand beaches of Monterrico. One of the ships that arrived to Guatemala broke the regional sales record for in-land excursions during the 2013-2014 season.
About Guatemala
Guatemala, “Heart of the Mayan World”, located in Central America is a place with a modern capital city that melds seamlessly with the country’s colonial and indigenous past. Guatemala is a path that offers enlightening experiences beyond what meets the eye, from ancient Mayan ruins that emerge from the lush rainforests and architecturally impressive colonial cities with colorful outdoor markets to countless adventures and natural wonders such as untouched forest reserves, volcanoes and pristine lakes. Guatemala presents Life Lessons worth living. It is also considered the home to three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the colonial city of Antigua, the Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua and the Tikal National Park. For more information, visit www.visitguatemala.com.
Tags:
