Following a 16.4 percent jump in arrivals this summer, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo is gearing up for what it hopes will be one of its strongest winter seasons ever. "With new international flights increasing the destination's connectivity, we expect a busy 2015," said Vanessa Mariscal, public relations manager for the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Presently, there are more nonstop and connecting flights, by more airlines, than ever before."
Most recently, Delta Air Lines announced new service to the destination from Los Angeles, with five departures a week, beginning Dec. 20. WestJet launched its winter season with thrice-weekly service out of Calgary through April 25. On Dec. 11, Sunwing Airlines, which offers flights from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, will add flights from Winnipeg, Kelowna and Regina-Saskatoon through April.
As part of its strategy to boost its tourism numbers, the destination recently expanded and modernized the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo International Airport (ZIH), which is equipped with car rental desks from both international and domestic companies, a restaurant, food bars, shops and, for departing international travelers, duty-free shops.
Baggage on international inbound connecting flights is routinely checked straight through for convenient customs clearance at ZIH, Mariscal said, and regulated airport transportation services offer chauffeured transfers in private sedans and vans. Another plus for travelers flying into ZIH, she said, is its close proximity to both destinations. Zihuatanejo is just 10 minutes west of the airport and Ixtapa an additional 10 minutes via a four-lane highway.
Accessibility to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo by car has also improved, thanks to a new highway, Autopista Siglo XXI, or 21st-Century Highway, which links the destination to Morelia in three hours, said Mariscal. "Also, Federal Highway 200 connects Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Acapulco, where the modern toll superhighway, Autopista del Sol, or Highway of the Sun, intersects to link Acapulco with Mexico City," she said. "There is convenient first-class and deluxe bus service between these cities and throughout Mexico."
All told, the dual destination boasts more than 7,000 hotel rooms. The newest addition to the region is the all-inclusive, all-suite Azul Ixtapa Grand, which features whirlpools and ocean-view balconies in every suite, as well as a wide array of a la carte restaurants. Located approximately 20 minutes from ZIH, Mariscal said the property is part of the $80 million Hotel Zone II Ixtapa development plan.
For its part, Zihuatanejo, a diminutive fishing port, epitomizes Old World Mexican charm, said Mariscal, while Ixtapa has garnered a reputation as a modern world-class resort destination.
"Zihuatanejo's hotels are smaller," said Mariscal. "They range from economy to grand luxury properties situated on La Ropa Beach or overlooking the bay." Most Ixtapa hotels, meanwhile, are located in the Hotel Zone along Palmar Beach.
In other developments, Mariscal said Ixtapa- Zihuatanejo has benefited from the Sun Triangle initiative, which was launched by the state of Guerrero in 2012 to collectively promote Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo and Taxco. "This government strategy has been successful because it allows equal promotion among the three destinations," said Mariscal. "On many occasions the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo brand has been included in the promotion of events in the other destinations."
Recently, Guerrero has seen its share of troubles, as it grapples with unrest and protests in the wake of the disappearance of 43 students. "We regret the recent incidents that have been taking place in our country and join in the pain of the students' families and all of those who have been affected by this tragedy," said Mariscal.
She said that Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo has been classified as a safe tourist area since 2012 by the U.S. Department of State, adding that incidents relating to the missing students have had no impact on the destination.
"We have confidence that the federal government is taking the necessary measures to resolve the situation in an effective manner," Mariscal said. "Our main focus is to attain closure on this issue and to continue to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for our visitors."
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