The 2024 holiday season has brought a notable increase in the movement of travelers at the Mérida International Airport and the city’s main bus stations. The Yucatecan capital is consolidating as a key connection point and tourist destination in the Mexican southeast.
According to airport authorities, passenger volume has increased by 25% compared to last year. This increase is mainly attributed to the combination of factors such as the rise of national and international tourism, the return of Yucatecan residents who live in other cities in the country or abroad to celebrate the holidays with their families, and the attractiveness of Mérida as a destination for vacationers looking to enjoy its warm climate, Christmas traditions, and cultural offerings.
“We are experiencing an extraordinary end to the year. Both airlines and local authorities have implemented additional measures to serve this volume of passengers and guarantee that the travel experience is efficient and comfortable,” commented Carlos Moreno, director of Mérida International Airport.
For their part, the main bus terminals report a similar panorama. Companies such as ADO and other carriers have increased the number of daily runs, mainly to destinations such as Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Mexico City. Despite this effort, some travelers have reported long wait times and high demand when purchasing tickets, so authorities recommend planning.
To address the growing demand, special security and passenger service operations have been implemented in both terminals. At the airport, additional customer service modules were enabled and the presence of support personnel was reinforced. At bus terminals, additional information points and filters have been established to speed up boarding.
The Yucatan Tourism Development Secretariat has also highlighted the positive impact of this increase on the local economy. “The arrival of tourists and the movement of travelers drive key sectors such as hotels, gastronomy, and commerce. It is a great opportunity for Yucatán to continue positioning itself as one of the most attractive destinations in the country,” said that government agency in a statement.
Meanwhile, city residents have expressed mixed opinions. On the one hand, they celebrate the economic benefits that tourism brings, but they also express concern about the saturation of spaces and the traffic generated by the increase in travelers.
The high influx of passengers is expected to continue until the first days of January when the festivities conclude and vacationers return to their places of origin. The authorities invite travelers to take precautions, arrive at the terminals with enough time in advance, and be attentive to possible adjustments to departure times.
By Roberto García Hidalgo for The Yucatan Times.
TYT Newsroom
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