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The Mexican Tourism Board thinks cruise lines which had dropped calls at Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta for the rest of 2011 because of safety and security concerns may be rethinking their business decisions.

“Their business models need to be revamped. We have to work with the cruise ships so that it’s attractive, and profitable for them,”#Rodolfo Lopez-Negrete, chief operating officer of the Mexican Tourism Board told San Diego’s NorthCountyTimes. “We believe they will come back to Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Major Mexican destinations are safe.”

In recent months, several cruise lines have canceled visits to the Mexican ports citing ongoing crime problems and concern for the safety of passengers and crew.

“The safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority. We will continue to work with the Mexican government and local officials to review their security plans for Mazatlan,” according to a prepared statement provided by Vance Gulliksen, a spokesman with Miami-based Carnival Cruise Lines. “Carnival ships had previously called in Mazatlan for a number of years and we are hopeful that we will be able to return there in the future.”

Lopez-Negrete said that his tourism board has engaged in conversations with cruise line officials and that “some admit a little bit of overreaction” to negative press regarding ongoing violence tied to the escalating drug war in isolated pockets of the country.

“Literally, every single market is up, and some of those markets are seeing double-digit growth,” Lopez-Negrete said, noting Mexico has seen “a minor reduction” of year-to-date visitors from the United States. He attributed this drop-off to the economic downturn in the United States, not beheadings, hijacks and murder,# along with concerns that the nation could be headed back into a recession resulting in less consumer spending.

Cruise lines remain steadfast in their decision to boycott the ports though, with major lines opting to keep ships, passengers and crew safely out of harms way, a unique quality that cruise ships, by nature, enjoy.

“We recently changed the itineraries, and at this point, there are no plans to change them back,” said Julie Benson with Princess Cruises. “But we are always looking at all of the variables that go into that kind of decision.”

Still, some lines are calling in Mexico including American Safari Cruises who has a little 22-guest yacht, the Safari Quest, that sails week-long adventure cruises from La Paz, Mexico, far from areas of violence and crime. The ship’s smaller size lets it explore many of the hundreds of islands and islets big cruise ships can’t get to. American Safari’s flexible and unhurried cruising philosophy promises time to seek out wildlife including multiple species of whales, dolphins and sea lions all prevalent in the wildlife-rich waters.”The Sea of Cortés is not as well-known as other destinations, but it’s a gem” said Tim Jacox, executive vice president of sales and marketing.

Airlines too are looking at Mexico as an increasingly attractive destination.# American Eagle’s sold-out inaugural flight arrived in Mazatlan, Mexico (MZT) from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) last June signaling support for tourism authorities that say Mexico is safe for travel. As Mexico struggles to repair it’s image and shift international focus from drug-lord induced crime headlines to business-as-usual, American’s new daily flight was welcomed with open arms.

“We come to Mazatlán to make our contribution and be good partners in tourism” said Marvin Diaz, Director General of American Airlines in Mexico.

Flickr photo by Alaskan Dude

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