In the next four years, Mexico will become the main investment destination for the Royal Caribbean Group (RCG) shipping company, one of the most important global cruise companies with destinations on all seven continents.
Royal Caribbean’s main land-based project in Mexico is Perfect Day Mexico.
Due to the amount of the investment, the priority in local supplies and its strong commitment to environmental preservation and restoration, it is part of Plan México.
That RCG has Mexico in perspective as its main market is not a minor thing.
On the contrary, it is a company that has almost 30% (27%) of the world market, by number of passengers and almost 25% (24.8%) by revenue.
Mahahual, from worst to best: Perfect Day
To date, the destination that will be recognized as Perfect Day Mexico is known as Costa Maya – with a registered trademark – and, shortly, it will recover its original name: Mahahual.
It will have the best technology in the world. It will no longer be the destination with the worst infrastructure in the world.
It will be a private beach club/island type destination, similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, located in Costa Maya-Mahahual, Quintana Roo.
Until recently, an investment of more than $1 billion was expected. As the project progresses, the amount of investment has increased substantially.
The purchase of land doubled, with a perspective of environmental preservation.
Around 50% of the property acquired in Mahahual corresponds to previously impacted areas, where tourism development will be concentrated, while the rest will be used for conservation and restoration.
The objective is to preserve the best and as much as possible; recover hydrological continuity, mangroves and the environmental environment. This project includes the purchase and modernization of the Port of Mahahual-Costa Maya, which Royal Caribbean took possession of last year.
It provides for modernization and greater efficiency of the port to receive more ships, tourist facilities, and a strong profile of social responsibility.
It projects the relocation and improvement of the community center, environmental restoration, water treatment, generation of local jobs and negotiation of tax incentives for greater reinvestment.
Tax incentives, greater investment
To date, RCG works with the federal, state and municipal governments on a tax incentive program to reinvest in the tourist destination.
It is a program that is not yet finished; It is being defined, in coordination with the authorities. RCG’s intention is to have a greater capacity for local reinvestment, in infrastructure, public services and ecological recovery
By the end of the decade, Royal Caribbean expects Mexico to be its main investment destination and its main market, says its president in Mexico, the Mexican Aru Adler. It will go from 2.1 million passengers per year that Costa Maya currently receives to between 4 and 5 million visitors per year.
By virtue of the investment in infrastructure in the port and in the area in general, its ship reception capacity will increase, emphasizes Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer of Royal Caribbean Group.
RCG is clear that its project will generate an economic benefit that will benefit the region.
Mexico has many attractions and sells itself, the executives of the cruise company agree.
Perfect Day is part of Royal Caribbean Group’s strategy to expand its exclusive private destinations by 2028.
RCG bets on Mexico. It sees it as one of its most important destinations globally. Its expectation is to maximize the visit of tourists, from different countries, but mainly from the US to Mexico, through its cruises and Perfect Day.
For now, they are only waiting for the approval of the Environmental Impact Statement that they recently presented to continue with the development of their project. We will see.
Glimpses
It is very positive that President Claudia Sheinbaum has consulted eight prestigious economists in recent days to find out their opinion on a fundamental question: why is the Mexican economy not growing?
The concern in itself reveals that there is a real concern about the issue, beyond the discursive rhetoric with which until now the low level of growth of the Gross Domestic Product has been minimized.
The experts, according to journalistic versions, would have spoken to him frankly. They raised the need to reduce legal uncertainty for investments; reduce insecurity, promote quality public investment and clear rules for national and international private investments.
I hope that the voices of the economists consulted are heard. Without a doubt, it would allow us to begin to overcome the long period of practically zero growth. At the time.
