Cancun, Q.R. — Head of the National Tourism Business Council says low demand for urban destinations has resulted in a weak first quarter, creating many difficulties in the tourism industry.
Braulio Arsuaga, president of the National Tourism Business Council, points out that the weak first quarter and low demand for urban destinations has created a difficult environment for the industry.
Although beach destinations have been in high demand, others continue to weaken, such as inland cities, noted Arsuaga adding that it is crucial for tourism personnel to be vaccinated to speed up recovery of the sector.
“2021 is not a recovery issue. It has been a very complicated first quarter. Easter was not bad for beach destinations, but it was bad for urban destinations. It will not be a time of recovery this year, but it will be a matter of putting the batteries in all of us. It is a year of survival,” he told the media during the recent World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Summit held in Cancun.
Arsuaga pointed out that the lack of incentives and other facilities that the sector has requested since the pandemic began has exacerbated the crisis. This has affected several companies in the sector, which have fallen into informality and even bankruptcy due to lack of liquidity.
Some of the most vulnerable businesses have been small and medium-sized companies. In Mexico, the Business Council estimates that there are 450,000 tourism companies that currently have fewer than 10 workers.
