MEXICO’S Brit holiday hotspot Cancun is offering free hotels and meals to tourists to encourage them to return in a new campaign.
Golf, theme park and hire car giveaways will also be included in the new plan to help the resort back on its feet after the coronavirus crisis.
Mexico has suffered more than 8,500 Covid-19 deaths and 78,000 confirmed cases since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
Hotels and restaurants are planning to reopen in Mexico’s Maya Riviera tourist area from June 8 after the lifting of a Covid-19-linked quarantine.
The new private initiative, involving more than 200 firms, will be officially launched on June 15.
The campaign will see hotels offering two nights free for each two nights booked or a free stay for two children when two adults book.
The 2+2 offer would also be extended to hire car rental, meaning holidaymakers could have two days free for each four days they have a vehicle.
Local reports say the campaign envisages discounts on golf and spa services and theme park entry too.
As well as Cancun, tourist-orientated businesses in the resorts of Puerto Morelos and Tulum and the Caribbean island of Isla Mujeres, eight miles off the coast from Cancun, are expected to take part.
Three-quarters of those backing the campaign are hotels.
Roberto Cintron, President of the Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres Hotels Association, said: “It’s designed to reactivate holidays to our destinations after the crisis caused by Covid-19.”
Oliver Reinhart, CEO of Mexican firm Atelier de Hoteles which has luxury all-inclusive hotels in Cancun and Playa Mujeres, told local media: “In the face of this atypical situation, we had to react to maintain our spectacular destinations in the forefront of tourists’ minds.”
He added: “The campaign is not about cheating the destination to a two for one. Cancun is worth what it is.”
“If it’s now available at a cheaper price take advantage of it because it’s not going to last forever.”
Lucky tourists who win one of the competitions being organised as part of the campaign will even be gifted holidays for two for the next 20 years.
The offer is being promoted under the hashtag #Come2MexicanCaribbean with the message: “Enter for a chance to win a vacation for life in any of the Mexican Caribbean destinations. Starting June 2020.”
Hotel association boss Mr Cintron has said he would like hotels to be at least half-full by July and August.
Hotel chains like Grupo Xcaret have reportedly snubbed the discount and freebie campaign because it will make things worse by reducing income even more at a difficult time for the tourist region.
The UK also still advises against non-essential travel, with limited flights outside of Europe.