The numbers are growing at a dizzying rate. From 2013 through 2017, the nation saw a 62 percent increase in visitor traffic, the fastest growth rate of any large global destination. “We are very proud of having reached, for the first time in our history, the sixth-most-visited country in the world,” said Mexico Tourism Secretary Enrique de la Madrid speaking to an audience of travel agents during a Mark Travel Corporation webinar.

Accordingly, infrastructure is also expanding, including welcoming 15,000 to 20,000 new hotel rooms every year. “Just last semester, 7,000 new rooms were inaugurated [in Mexico],” said de la Madrid.
He also noted that the CEOs of Marriott and Hilton hotels have committed to adding 43 new properties in Mexico in the next two to three years.

Connectivity to the nation is also increasing. In 2017, some 18.6 million international visitors arrived by air. For 2018 alone, the country has already welcomed 4,600 new flights, including new service from Chicago to Mazatlan, Denver to Cozumel, Los Angeles to Acapulco and Seattle to Mexico City.

Mexico’s transformation into global tourism star has not come without its challenges, including an ongoing concern over visitor safety.  Mexico’s tourism industry has vowed to take a harder line on people and organizations spreading mis-information about the country.The Mark Travel Corporation webinar, which also featured tourism updates from area convention and visitors bureaus, was designed to help answer travel agents concerns and questions about these issues.

“[Mexico] is a fantastic destination and [one] that has been important to our company for over 30 years,” said host Ray Snisky, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer of The Mark Travel Corporation, before introducing Secretary de la Madrid. “It is the passion, warmth and graciousness of the people of Mexico that really makes that destination unique.”
“There’s a lot of misinformation [about Mexico] right now.” Snisky said, and that having the right information would transition into clarity and energy for travel agents selling Mexico.
During the webinar, Secretary de la Madrid addressed travel agent concerns about safety.
In the last update of the U.S. State Department,” he said, “there is basically no major touristic destination [in Mexico] that has any travel advisory.”

He noted that as of last August there were two visitor destinations with warnings, which went away with the update of the State Department Advisory system in January. He also clarified that the new system has four qualification levels. “Number 1, I suppose, being paradise,” he said, “[while Number 2] is all the normal countries around the world, where they put Mexico but they also put the UK, France and Spain. Just remember France is the number one tourist destination worldwide and Spain is number two, so we have the same qualification as those two destinations.”

He also told agents to remember that while Mexico frequently appears in the media over sensationalistic stories about violence, those stories are mostly drug-related. “Tourists coming to Mexico are not the target of this violence and they are not impacted, mainly, by this violence.” He pointed out that zero homicides in Cancun last year involved tourists.

He also added a little context, pointing out that Mexico is not too different than what happens in other parts of the world, or what happens in the U.S. The general crime rates generally do not have an impact on visitors to those destinations.

Despite the relatively low impact on visitors, Mexico’s tourism industry is taking these concerns seriously. A number of safety improvements have been implemented in Baja California Sur, where Los Cabos is locatd, for example. In April, said de la Madrid, Los Cabos saw its homicide rate drop by 80 percent.
Mexico is following a similar safety model in Quintana Roo, which is home to some of the nation’s top visitor destinations, including Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Riviera Maya.

The measures, which are being spearheaded by state and local authorities as well as the tourism industry include an increased police presence at area beaches and on the roads. Also, additional metal detectors are being installed in Cozumel and Playa del Carmen and there’s also a new mobile site for visitor safety.

De la Madrid also addressed last year’s allegations of tainted alcohol being served in some of the top resort areas. “Not a single claim of tainted alcohol consumption has ever been proven true,” he said. “There was [however] evidence of a combination of excessive drinking and there was evidence of drugs.” He has also said Mexico will no longer “tolerate” any case where information being spread is false. Out of a desire to not to harm anyone’s reputation, Mexico was slow to point a finger at the accusers’ use of excessive drugs and alcohol. “But the reputation [we want to harm least] is ours,” he said.

He also recognized some media and other parties were frustrated with Mexico’s slow response, as the tourism industry tried to piece together what happened and said this was a mistake Mexico will not repeat.
Mexico will implement a management system in order to investigate situations more quickly. “We are trying to provide information soon, even if it is not yet complete,” he said. “That’s something we are working on.”

He said Mexico was keeping a careful eye on a report from the CDC that has called “binge drinking” an epidemic in the United States. This is something that obviously could affect Mexico, which welcomes more than 20 million American visitors every year. More training will also be provided to hotel personnel, teaching front line staff to stop serving alcohol to guests who are clearly inebriated. “They are not obliged to give these guests more alcohol,” he said.

De la Madrid also asked travel agents and other partners who do business in Mexico, to help set the record straight and be more proactive about sharing accurate information. He also recommended that travel agents stay educated about Mexico so they can become experts on selling the country. 

Other speakers during the Mark Travel webinar include Jorge Tellez, Promotion Director, The Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau; Julio Birrueta, Director of the Mazatlán Tourism Board; Elvira Moncayo, Public Relations, Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board; Marc Murphy, Director General, Riviera Nayarit; and Rodrigo Esponda, Managing Director, Los Cabos Tourism Board.

Personally, Mexico is one of my favorite destinations. As an all inclusive expert and honeymoon, destination wedding specialist, I travel there often. Contact me any time to learn more and book your Mexico vacation.  You get personal professional accessible service for the same price as doing it all yourself! ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com

A new survey revealed travelers are taking more solo vacations to get away from longer working hours, constant digital contact and increasing obligations.
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The study conducted by YouGov and Agoda found that 61 percent of respondents said relaxation and time to unwind was the number one motivator for solo leisure travel. Another 52 percent said getting away from routine was a top motivator and 45 percent wanted to explore new cultures.

The 'Solo Travel Trends 2018 survey also found some stark differences between Asian and Western travelers. Solo tourists from Asia are more likely to be younger, with 41 percent being Millennials and 38 percent being Generation Zers. On the other hand, solo travel in the west is more common among Baby Boomers (39 percent) and Generation Xers (24 percent).

​In addition, western solo tourists are more likely to travel for longer periods, with 34 percent taking trips for 4-7 nights. Travelers from the west are also twice as likely to go on trips of 14 nights or more (20 percent versus 10 percent.) The biggest trend among business, leisure or b-leisure solo travelers is most are visiting cosmopolitan cities around the world, including London, Tokyo, Bangkok, Sydney, New York City and more.

While traveling alone should help people unwind, solo leisure travelers spend 15 percent more time in front of their laptops and phones than when travelers are with friends and 26 percent more time than if they are with family.

Love the idea of traveling solo, but worried you will get bored and spend too much time with your device?  Consider joining a small group of other independent travelers.  For more information contact ChrisRakes@totalexperiencetravel.com

In a continuing effort to keep sargassum from hitting land, an additional 27-kilometers of the seaweed barriers have been placed along the beaches in Riviera Maya.

Comercializadora Chaktumen of Quintana Roo, the company installing the barriers, completed the task on Thursday. The extra containment barriers won’t be placed in just one location, but added in sections of 500 or 1,000 meters in front of the most affected beaches during sargassum season.

According to the Riviera Maya News, the municipalities of Cancun, Mahahual, Puerto Morelos and Tulum, along with the old town of Playa del Carmen to the south of Punta Venado, are all considered high-priority locations for the barriers to be placed.

“We do not know the volumes nor the exact sites to which the marine vegetation will arrive, but the objective is to guarantee that the beaches are clean and available for tourism and that the balance of the environment is also ensured,” said Alfredo Arellano, Secretary of Ecology and Environment of Quintana Roo.

Arellano also added that even with the additional barriers in place, regular maintenance and cleaning will still need to be done to ensure the beaches are sargassum free. Vehicles equipped with vacuum suction will be brought in to remove piled seaweed already on land.

With these extra barriers added, those already hard at work clearing the seaweed and the two sargassum boats the US sent over to help with cleaning efforts, there’s no reason tourists should let sargassum deter them from these popular Mexican Caribbean destinations.

The entire Cancun region is a great spot with friendly people, impeccable service and beautiful resorts.  Contact All Inclusive Vacation Expert & Mexico Specialist, Chris Rakes to learn more and plan your Riviera Mayan vacation!

Mexico continues to rise the ranks among the world's most-visited destinations, ranking sixth globally after hosting more than 39 million international tourists in 2017.
Nonetheless, the Mexico Tourism Board is out to set the record straight regarding recent reports linked to the U.S. State Department's updated travel advisory system, which ranked Mexico as a "level 2" country where travelers should "exercise increased caution" when it debuted earlier this year.
However, level 2 was also assigned to destinations like Germany, France and the U.K. and the board points out that the advisory exempts major international tourist destinations across the country, including those in states with higher levels in the advisory.
"While Mexico faces challenges with crime and violence like many countries around the world today, the overwhelming majority of those incidents are related to Mexican individuals," the Mexico Tourism Board said in a statement. "In the very rare recent cases where foreigners have been impacted, the majority of the cases found that those individuals were involved in suspicious or criminal activity not associated with tourism."
So far in 2018, the U.S. State Department hasn't issued a single alert recommending against travel to Mexico. "Our main concern comes from the fact that the crime, violence and other statistics used are those for a country overall, not related to the number of incidents that impact foreign visitors," the board stated in January.
In its ongoing effort to eliminate any remaining doubt about visitor safety, Mexican officials are taking a proactive approach to reducing risks and ensuring travelers return home satisfied.
Enhanced security measures already taken in Quintana Roo include 24-hour surveillance at the maritime terminals of Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, additional metal detectors and an added police presence with specially-trained canine units.
Other upgrades include investments in technology to assist in the communication of security personnel with hotels and tour operators and close coordination between the entire tourism industry with the municipal police and other authorities in order to report any suspicious activity and take appropriate actions.
"Mexico is a safe, friendly and welcoming destination and one that is growing faster than the global industry average for more than five years in a row," the board states.
As Mexico continues to draw and win over more and more visitors, safety and security will remain a top priority. The destination is also working to boost travel infrastructure through new hotel and resort openings as well as added airline routes.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MEXICO AND THE BEST PLACES TO STAY, CONTACT CHRISRAKES@TOTALEXPERIENCETRAVEL.COM

Rome is called the Eternal City because ancient Romans believed that no matter what happened to the world, or how many empires rose or fell, that Rome would go on forever. The enduring quality of the city continues to this day and it’s no surprise with all its beauty and intrigue that Rome remains one of the most beloved tourist destinations in the world.

Getting around the city is easy. There’s walking, the metro, or one of Rome’s hop-on-hop-off narrated bus tours. To truly experience the magic of Rome, these are the experiences that shouldn’t be missed.

Tour the Colosseum
No matter how many times you view photos of Rome’s iconic and magnificent Colosseum, seeing it in person is amazing due to its sheer enormity. Gladiators once fought in this massive stadium, built in 70 A.D. The amphitheater is incredibly impressive from the exterior, but walking through its interior is a must. Although ravaged by time and human destruction, what remains powerfully echoes the glory and grandeur of Rome. We were astonished by its intricate underground infrastructures that supported the staged spectacles above. One word of advice is to arrive early in the morning or book a tour for front-of-the-line privileges.

​Walk the Roman Forum
There’s something humbling yet magical about walking in the footsteps of Rome’s emperors like Caesar Augustus. The Roman Forum flourished as the center of Roman life in the days of the Republic and early Empire. Though much of the ruins are mere shells of the original temples, arches, and basilicas, what remains is both moving and archaeologically fascinating. Climbing nearby Palatine Hill provided spectacular panoramic views of the Roman and Imperial Forums, Capitoline Hill and the Colosseum.

Visit the Vatican Museum
The glories of the ancient and medieval world are on display in the lavish papal palace known as the Vatican Museum. It can be overwhelming to decide what to see due to its enormity. Having a guidebook is a tremendous help. Arriving early is imperative to beat the crowds. Filled with a treasure trove of statues, mummies, tapestries and Renaissance art, every room provides another awe-inspiring experience. No matter how many times we’ve visited, our favorite showstopper remains Michelangelo’s painted ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The astonishing achievement took four years to complete as the artist laid flat on scaffolding while creating this magnificent work of art.

See St. Peter’s Basilica
From the Sistine Chapel, there’s a time-saving shortcut leading to another world-renowned site, St. Peter’s Basilica. Considered the holiest shrine of the Catholic Church, the basilica is built on the site of St. Peter’s tomb. The Pope delivers Mass within its glorious walls and Bernini’s massive bronze canopy towers over the altar. The basilica also contains Michelangelo’s famous Pietà. The marble statue, completed when he was only 24 years old, depicts a grieving Mary cradling her crucified son Jesus.
Be aware, the Vatican adheres to a dress code.

Toss a Coin in the Trevi Fountain
Rome is the city of fountains—and there are thousands. But, its most treasured and famous is the Trevi Fountain. Legend proclaims that if you throw a coin in the fountain, right hand over left shoulder, it ensures your return to Rome. True or not, there’s a lot of coin tossing happening at this exquisitely sculpted, ever-flowing Baroque masterpiece.

Explore the Jewish Quarter
One of the most underappreciated places to see and explore in Rome is the Jewish Quarter. From the 16th through the 19th centuries, Rome’s Jewish population was forced to live in the cramped ghetto along the Tiber River. While the medieval Jewish ghetto no longer exists, the quarter is still home to Rome’s Jewish community. The Great Synagogue of Rome sits impressively in the heart of the former seven-acre ghetto.
The most fascinating sights to behold in the quarter are the colonnaded ruins of the Portico of Octavia and nearby ancient Teatro di Marcello.
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Experience the Pantheon at Night
Rome after dark transforms into a magical wonderland. Many of its iconic sights are illuminated, but there’s something special about viewing the Pantheon, Rome’s most preserved monument at night.
The Pantheon was a Roman temple dedicated to the gods. Original structures burned, but the current temple dates back to 120 A.D. It was a wonderful surprise the first time we came upon it accidentally at night. The interior is a must-see during the day. However, it’s unexpected majestic presence when turning the corner after dark is always an unforgettable experience.

Wining and Dining in Rome
The Italians are masters of the art of fine food. Truth be told, we haven’t had anything but great cuisine and good wine in Rome. Ambiance makes a huge difference. Most dining establishments have outdoor seating—a huge criterion for us each time we visit. It’s hard to beat dining overlooking flowing fountains and surrounded by ancient history. For visitors that truly want to tap into the region’s specialties, there are a few must-tries. Spaghetti alla carbonara (consisting of an egg and bacon sauce), carciofi alla guiuda (Jewish-style artichokes), and gnocchi alla romana (Italian dumplings) are well-known mouth-watering Roman dishes. No meal is complete without wine—even the basic house wine (vino della casa) is usually a good choice. Roman desserts are delectable. When tummies are too full for tiramisu or another sweet treat, there’s always gelato—which can be found everywhere throughout the city.

Italian painter and architect Giotto di Bondone said, “Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning.” Perhaps it’s why each time you visit you yearn for the moment of return.

​With more than 13 million people flying just 279 miles between Seoul’s Gimpo Airport to popular Jeju island off the coast of the Korean Peninsula is the most in-demand air route in the world. The route has around 180 scheduled flights per day, which means there is one flight every eight minutes taking off, transporting travelers to the island.

In 2017, 13,460,305 passengers flew between Seoul and Jeju, an increase of 9.4 percent.
The second busiest air route was between Melbourne, Australia, to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
While it’s correct to be surprised that the title of world’s busiest air route is not in the U.S., which is the world’s largest aviation market, Routes found that air services in the Asia-Pacific region dominate the top 100 busiest routes by passenger numbers, accounting for more than 70 percent of the total.
The busiest international air route connects Hong Kong and Taiwan. The route between Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport also holds claim to the title of eighth most popular overall, with 6,719,029 passengers flying the 498 miles in 2017.

The fastest-growing route is in Thailand. The route that links Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Chiang Mai is the fastest-growing route in the top 100. The route showed growth of 36 percent year-over-year with nearly 2.4 million passengers. “This research backs up forecasts that the Asia-Pacific region will be the biggest driver of passenger demand over the next 20 years. Such staggering aviation growth means it is the perfect time for World Routes to return to China,” Steven Small, brand director of Routes. “The event will bring together senior decision makers from across the world to plan new air services and discuss increasing the frequency and capacity of the existing routes that are popular with passengers. The negotiations in taking place in Guangzhou could pave the way to the busiest routes of the future,” added Small.

The top 10 busiest scheduled passenger routes in the world:
—Jeju - Seoul Gimpo (CJU-GMP)
—Melbourne - Sydney Kingsford Smith (MEL-SYD)
—Sapporo - Tokyo Haneda (CTS-HND)
—Fukuoka - Tokyo Haneda (FUK-HND)
—Mumbai - Delhi (BOM-DEL)
—Beijing Capital - Shanghai Hongqiao (PEK-SHA)
—Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City (HAN-SGN)
—Hong Kong - Taiwan Taoyuan (HKG-TPE)
—Jakarta - Juanda Surabaya (CGK-SUB)
—Tokyo Haneda - Okinawa (HND-OKA)

The top 10 busiest scheduled international routes in the world:
—Hong Kong - Taiwan Taoyuan (HKG-TPE)
—Jakarta - Singapore Changi (CGK-SIN)
—Hong Kong - Shanghai Pudong (HKG-PVG)
—Kuala Lumpur - Singapore Changi (KUL-SIN)
—Bangkok Suvarnabhumi - Hong Kong (BKK-HKG)
—Dubai - London Heathrow (DXB-LHR)
—Hong Kong - Seoul Incheon (HKG-ICN)
—Hong Kong - Singapore Changi (HKG-SIN)
—New York JFK - London Heathrow (JFK-LHR)
—Hong Kong - Beijing Capital (HKG-PEK)

The top 10 fastest-growing scheduled air routes in the top 100:
—Bangkok Suvarnabhumi - Chiang Mai (BKK-CNX)
—Seoul Incheon - Kansai International (ICN-KIX)
—Jakarta - Kuala Lumpur (CGK-KUL)
—Delhi - Pune (DEL-PNQ)
—Chengdu - Shenzhen Bao'an (CTU-SZX)
—Hong Kong - Shanghai Pudong (HKG-PVG)
—Bangkok Suvarnabhumi - Phuket (BKK-HKT)
—Jeddah - Riyadh King Kalid (JED-RUH)
—Jakarta - Kualanamu (CGK-KNO)
—Kolkata - Delhi (CCU-DEL)

Barcelona’s seaside beauty, sprawling beaches, world-class shopping, eclectic architecture, incredible tapas and Tempranillo and all-around zest for living one’s best life is no secret. The city famously presides over global travelers’ lists of “must see” destinations, inevitably enticing them with days filled with as much energy and discovery as the pulsating nightlife. Barcelona’s treasures are many and diverse, and have drawn attention beyond that of culture-seeking travelers. In fact, nine important sites in the city have earned the esteemed acclaim of UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Since the city is fairly easy to navigate, whether on foot or by the abundant tourist and public transportation options, one can certainly plan to see all or most of these treasures during a visit to Barcelona. And with more than a dozen luxury cruises calling there in 2018 and 2019 – many with overnight stays – I'm happy to give you plenty of choices and opportunities to check these remarkable sites off your bucket lists.

Fun Fact: Of the nine Barcelona UNESCO World Heritage Sites, seven are works by the city’s most famous son, architect Antoni Gaudí. They are listed collectively on UNESCO’s register as one enduring treasure, but are separate sites, boasting individual character and the signature style of the master, found throughout the city.

​From a former power station that houses monumental pieces of contemporary art to modern marvels of engineering that are as awe-inspiring on the outside as the art they contain, here’s our personal list for the world’s most spectacular art museums.
 
GUGGENHEIM, BILBAO, SPAIN
Built in a former shipyard, this titanium, glass and limestone building is one of the most celebrated pieces of architecture in modern times and placed the industrial city of Bilbao firmly on the cultural map. The museum is home to modern and contemporary art from all over the world. Expect irregularly shaped galleries, large glass curtains and unexpected design features.
 
MUSEUM OF ISLAMIC ART, DOHA, QATAR
Designed by I.M. Pei, the same architect that designed the Louvre’s glass pyramid, the Museum of Islamic Art is a modern masterpiece inspired by ancient Islamic architecture. As the name suggests, the museum holds one of the world’s most impressive collections of Islamic art. From royal treasures dating back to the seventh century to ordinary household objects, every piece in this extraordinary museum tells a story.
 
TATE MODERN, LONDON, UK
Housed in the former Bankside Power Station, the iconic space is now home to spectacular galleries that include the station’s original turbine hall, the boiler house and oil tanks. The museum is dedicated to international modern and contemporary art. From monumental pieces of sculpture to colorful abstract paintings, you’ll be surprised by the range of exhibitions. Films, performances and workshops are also on offer.
 
NITEROI CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
It took five years to build this museum designed by renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer, but this spectacular saucer-shaped structure now hosts one of Brazil’s most important contemporary art collections. Like a film set from a science fiction movie, the galleries hover over Boa Viagem beach. With its panoramic views, the iconic museum is the perfect home for artistic creation and dream-like ideas.

Contact All Inclusive Vacation and Tour Specialist Chris Rakes to learn more and  help you get there!