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It’s shaping up to be a very popular year to visit Cancun as the current stream of visitors seems to have no end.
Even looking out over the rest of the summer, reservations for beach destinations in general are already 22 percent over the amount booked at this time last year.
Travelers considering a getaway to Cancun later in the year need to be aware of the trend and take action now.
Reviewing The Flight Data
A recent review of flight data requests by passengers shows that Cancun is the No. 24 most sought-after destination in the world this summer.
That puts the Mexican beach resort destination in the same top 30 destination list as Bangkok, London, and even Paris.
Now that ranking is starting to show in the passenger counts at the Cancun International Airport, where more than 500,000 passengers traveled through the airport in the first week of July alone.
From a booking perspective, reservations for flights to shopping destinations have jumped 53 percent year over year; nature areas are up 45 percent over last year, and even urban areas are up 42 percent compared with year-ago numbers.
With all of these great amenities available in Cancun, it’s easy to see why the area is popular with tourists looking to get away.
Post-Pandemic Travel Trend
This strong demand for travel to Cancun is still reflective of a “revenge travel” trend seen since the ending of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and restrictions.
However, according to the flight data, it looks like the trend is still accelerating among visitors instead of actually peaking last year and on the decline.
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Cancun is a relatively close-by international destination that provides sun, sand, and plenty of activities while still being affordable for most travelers.
That’s why it has become such a popular destination in the post-pandemic travel era.
Book Hotels and Flights Now
The trend is great for the hotels, resorts, restaurants and businesses that provide services to Cancun travelers. But what is the overall impact for visitors?
Visitors to Cancun have to be prepared to book their vacation getaway to the beach resort destination well in advance this year to guarantee the best availability and the lowest rates.
Traditionally, flights and hotels should be booked at least six months in advance. In that case, visitors looking to spend some time in Cancun should be booking now, especially for peak winter season travel.
Prior to the summer season, occupancy in hotels in Cancun was running above 80 percent.
During the summer season, which tends to be the off-season due to the heat and potential for hurricanes and rainy weather, the occupancy is already not far off at about 75 percent.
Consider Reservations For Amenities
Preferred amenities should also be reserved in advance as popular Cenote tours and boat cruises also sell out quickly. However, they do not necessarily have to be booked at least six months in advance.
Travelers looking to participate in a specific activity may want to reach out to the provider now to get an idea of how reservations are looking and consider making reservations for the most popular tours and events soon.
There may even be a reduction in price for booking ahead, and that could come in handy when trying to save some money on a vacation in Cancun.
Prepare For Other Travel Impacts
Visitors should also be prepared to face large crowds of people in the hotel zone in the peak season and should plan ahead for traffic delays between Cancun International Airport and the popular resorts in the hotel zone.
Travelers should also be prepared for large crowds on the beaches, especially during the peak winter travel season.
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