• BLOW: The number of cruise ships arriving to Mexico’s Pacific Coast ports -like Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas- is expected to decrease in at least 75% during 2020 due to the coronavirus shock, according to estimates by the Mexican Association of Cruise Line Service Providers (AMEPACT).
• NUMBERS: The earliest date when local industry believes international cruise operators could resume sending ships to the Mexican Pacific Coast is October. Last year, 950 cruise ships docked in Mexico’s Pacific ports including Ensenada (269) Cabo San Lucas (204) and Puerto Vallarta (181).
• DAMAGE: “This has an impact in many ways, not just earnings (from booking) passengers, but also consumption at craft stores, (local) travel agents, private car leasing companies,” said Arturo Musi AMEPACT). The total number cruise ships arriving to both Mexico’s Pacific and Caribbean ports in 2019 was 2,951.
• RECORD: In 2019, the cruise industry brought to Mexico a record-high of 8.9 million in total passenger traffic, according to Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism. The Caribbean island of Cozumel was by far Mexico’s port with the highest number of recording 4.5 million passengers.
