Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - 2019 represents a series of challenges and opportunities for Puerto Vallarta to maintain the tourist bonanza that began in 2018 with high hotel occupancy rates, economic benefits and the constant creation of direct and indirect jobs for the benefit of families in the Banderas Bay region.

Preliminary reports from the Ministry of Tourism's Datatur system indicate that 2018 closed with an annual hotel occupation of 71.86 percent, with 12,864 registered rooms - 357 more than in 2017 when 12,507 room nights were booked.

Meanwhile, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico reports having received 4,760,000 air passengers at the end of the year, 66% international and 34% national in 53 routes (41 from abroad and 12 domestic).

This year, the new "Puerto Magico" maritime terminal will be consolidated, which with the image of a Hacienda Tequilera will offer a great experience to cruise passengers; It is also expected that the Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport expansion project will be defined to offer even more spacious and comfortable areas for passengers.

In addition, the hotel industry continues to be renovated to meet the needs of the most demanding tourists, there are projects in the south area in Grand Park Royal and Garza Blanca Sur, while new airlines are to increase the connectivity of the destination with other cities in North America.

Last week, Swoop airlines launched twice-weekly service from Hamilton, Ontario, as well as a twice-weekly flight from Abbotsford, British Columbia, which could bring up to 12,000 more Canadians to this region until April 27, 2019.

It is also expected to consolidate the success of the Copa Airlines flight from Panama City, which in December began a couple of weekly operations, connecting Puerto Vallarta with Central, South America and the Caribbean, where there is growing interest in visiting this Mexican Pacific destination.

2019 will be a year of intense activity at the maritime terminal with the expected arrival of 170 cruise ships. So far, January, the height of the high season, is a sign of this bonanza with the arrival of 25 boats with three triple arrivals and even a quadruple on the 30th. Cruise sector statistics indicate that cruise ship passenger expenditures continue to increase, with each disembarking passenger now spending an average of $98 USD during their visit to Puerto Vallarta.

According to Álvaro Garciarce, the president of the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Association and the director of the city's Tourism Trust, the biggest challenge is not so much increasing the number of visitors as increasing the economic influx they leave here. In an effort to achieve this, he said, hoteliers and tourism service providers are constantly innovating through the renovation of their facilities and the improvement of services and products.

The first quarter of the year is one of the best for Puerto Vallarta, which has enjoyed three years of continuous growth. January 2018 closed with hotel occupancy at 85.46 percent, almost one percentage point more than in 2017.

The year begins with a large presence of North American and Canadian temporary residents, who spend the winter here, and with international travelers who are attracted by the sighting of whales, one of the tourist season's many attractions.

2019 represents great challenges and opportunities for the entire tourism sector, which with renewed energy is ready to continue offering national and international visitors unforgettable vacation experiences.

Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust press release translated and edited by Lorena Sonrisas for BanderasNews.com.