Summer travel: Destination Mexico

Why Southeast Missourians should still head south of the border for a great vacation

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. -- May 9, 2011 -- The tourism industry in Mexico saw significant increases in 2010, despite continued media reports of drug violence. U.S. travelers visiting the country grew by about 8 percent during the first half of 2010, compared to the same months in 2009 (the most recent data available from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Travel and Tourism Industries), making Mexico the fourth most-visited international region among U.S. travelers. And for good reason, says Elite Travel Inc. & Cruise president and CEO Carolyn Kempf, who returned in April from a trip to Cancun, Mexico.

"22.4 million vacationers safely visited Mexico last year. The Mexican government makes protecting U.S. citizens and other visitors to major tourist destinations a top priority," says Kempf. "Mexico's resort areas and tourist destinations do not have the level of drug-related crime reported in other regions."

Kempf and Elite Travel Inc. & Cruise consultant Shannon Thompson visited the Riu Las Americanas on their recent trip as part of their Mexico certification. The certification process includes online courses, destination inspection and safety investigation, to ensure agents are both knowledgeable and confident in planning trips for clients.

The white sand beaches of Cancun and the Mayan Riviera are only 2.5 hours from Southeast Missouri," says Kempf. "It remains one of the lowest priced vacations in the region, with some of the best spas and beaches." Vacation packages include adventure-oriented activities, from ATVs to horseback riding; visits to Mayan ruins and zip-lining. "The people of this region are friendly, warm and inviting...just like their beaches," says Kempf. "It's one of the most family friendly spots, with watermarks and ecological parks."

Elite is RIU certified, and used the recent trip to inspect all of the chain's Mexico brands. "Riu is a great value for the money," says Kempf. "It's a family resort that offers adjoining rooms. And they're very consistent; if you stay at one Riu, you will normally have the same experience at another."

The international RIU chain was founded by the Riu family in 1953 as a small holiday firm and is still owned by the family's third generation. The company specializes in sun and sand holiday resorts. More than 50% of its over 100 resorts worldwide offer RIU's acclaimed all-inclusive by RIU formula. With the inauguration of its first urban hotel in 2010, RIU widens its range of product with a new city hotel product line called RIU PLAZA. RIU Hotels & Resorts now has more than 100 hotels in 20 countries which welcome over 2.9 million guests a year. RIU is currently the world's 27th ranked chain (according to HOTELS magazine in 2009), one of the Caribbean's most popular and the fourth largest in Spain by revenue and number of rooms.