As COVID-19 vaccines become more available and local inhabitants receive the first dose, tourism increases in general terms, so as does the number of flights landing at Cancun International Airport.
In Quintana Roo State, vaccination is being applied by demographic groups. The first group receiving the vaccine were health workers, who were continued by older adults. Young adults and tourism workers have also received the first dose, mostly from AstraZeneca vaccine, which has caused some side effects in isolated population cases. In some cases, older adults are already receiving the second dose completing their vaccination scheme.
The success of such vaccination campaigns and the continuous application of sanitary measures have resulted in a significant increase in tourism all over the State. Being Cancun Airport the main gate connecting both abroad and to other States of Mexico, its operation has reflected the wish of thousands of people to spend a relaxing beach vacation time after the recent months of confinement and severe restriction.
On Sunday July 25th, almost 500 flights were registered, surpassing last year’s numbers and almost reaching the pre-pandemic increase estimates.
Bars, restaurants, and Cancun Airport transportation providers have benefited from this operational increase. The experience has slightly changed to include the mandatory sanitary measures. However, for most travelers, these measures and protocols qualify as excellent, as they exist for the only purpose of taking care of their health.
Some airlines, such as Spirit and United Airlines, are still expanding their network and including new direct flights to Cancun from several US cities. Some other airlines, such as TAG, Viva, and Conviasa incorporate flights from destinations located in both central and south America.
The appropriate application of sanitary measures has let local businesses come back to life with an understandable level of normality. New measures have also been announced, including the request for vaccination certificates, which can be obtained online hours after the dose application, and the request for PCR tests with negative results issued within the last 72 hours.
This is how the Mexican Caribbean has reactivated its tourism, giving the opportunity to achieve certain economic stability to those inhabitants that rely highly on this sector.