New York - The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board this week announced that the city has reported an increase of over 6% in hotel occupancy for the first 6 months of the year, with an average occupancy rate for January to June of close to 90%, compared to 73% in 2016 and 70% in 2015.
Similarly, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) handled 1,843,600 international passenger arrivals in the first half of the year, 12.1% more than the same period in 2016. In addition, 189,324 passengers visited the destination while on cruise calls to the Puerto Vallarta Cruise Port, a 2% increase compared to 2016.
The Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board credits the success of its consistent and proactive promotional and communication campaign in its primary markets, including Mexico, the US and Canada, as well as emerging markets in South America and Europe, for the continued increase in visitor arrivals. In addition, the tourism board's strategic PR efforts targeting specific niche markets have played a role.
US News & World Reports' Best Vacations 2017 selected Puerto Vallarta as #9 Best Place to Visit in Mexico, #7 Best Beaches in Mexico and #5 Best Spring Break Destination. In addition, TripAdvisor's consumer base of more than 2 million monthly users ranked Puerto Vallarta as the #3 Overall Best Mexican Destination for the 2017 Traveler's Choice Award.
In 2016, Puerto Vallarta's Cruise Port Terminal was named the top Mexican Riviera & South America Destination at the Cruise Critic® first-ever Cruisers' Choice Destination Awards. The world's leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, based its ranking on consumer ratings submitted with reviews on the Cruise Critic website. The awards go out to destinations across 15 regions worldwide.
Puerto Vallarta is home to the most amount hotels with Diamond Awards in Mexico; including: Hotel Mousai has a Five Diamond Award, Four Diamond Award rating for the Barcelo Puerto Vallarta (since 2008), CasaMagna Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa (Since 1991), Casa Velas Hotel Boutique (Since 2003), Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta (2001), Garza Blanca Preserve, Resort & Spa, Hacienda San Angel (2006), Hilton Puerto Vallarta Resort (2013), Hotel Grand Miramar Puerto Vallarta (2015), Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta (2015), Now Amber (2013), Secrets Vallarta Bay (2013), Sunset Plaza Beach Resort & Spa (2011), Villa Premiere Hotel & Spa (2006) and the Westin Resort and Spa, which has held the distinction for over 23 years in a row. For 79 years AAA has used professional inspectors to conduct in-person property inspections. AAA offers the only rating system using comprehensive, on-site professional hotel and restaurant evaluations guided by member priorities.
As Mexico's leading culinary beach destination, Puerto Vallarta has over 350 restaurants. Home to two AAA Four Diamond Awarded restaurants: Emiliano (2014) and Vista Grill (2005); visitors have also enjoyed and placed three Puerto Vallarta restaurants in the Top 10 of TripAdvisor's Favorite Fine Dining Mexican Restaurants - Bistro Teresita, Le Kliff and La Leche.
About Puerto Vallarta
Located in the heart of Mexico's Pacific coastline and framed by the rugged, tropical Sierra Madre Mountains to the east and facing Banderas Bay, Mexico's largest natural bay and second largest on the American continent, Puerto Vallarta is easily accessible from the U.S. and Canada. Puerto Vallarta enjoys a warm tropical climate year-round, with average daytime temperatures of 80 F and cooler evening temperatures in winter months. Located 4 miles from downtown Puerto Vallarta, Gustavo Diaz International airport receives over 4 million visitors annually. The destination is home to 300,000 residents and offers an estimated 22,500 hotel rooms with over half in 4-star-plus properties. Additional information is available at VisitPuertoVallarta.com.