FCCA panel bags Mexico's tourism secretary, 2 governors, mayor

Secretary of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu Salinas, Quintana Roo Gov. Roberto Borge, Sinaloa Gov. Mario López Valdez and Cozumel Mayor Fredy Marrufo Martín are scheduled to take part in 'Overcoming Challenges—Learn from Mexico' at the FCCA's Cruise Conference and Trade Show, Oct. 6-10 in St. Maarten.

Gerry Cahill, president and ceo of Carnival Cruise Lines, and Kevin Sheehan, FCCA chairman and president and ceo of Norwegian Cruise Line, will also participate in the Mexico panel on the afternoon of Oct. 8. The moderator is FCCA president Michele Paige.

Mexico is an important destination for cruising but the country has gone through some tough years. The challenges included pockets of crime that were highly publicized, turning off tourists and, subsequently, cruise demand, a need to freshen tourism offerings and update the country's image with travelers, battles over a cruise head tax and the 2009 H1N1 virus outbreak.

From all of this, Paige said, 'came leadership that really brought Mexico into a much better light.'

She noted the federal government, the states and local officials are working together to tackle issues and implement many projects. All of this, Paige added, can be a lesson for other destinations facing challenges. This was behind the creation of the workshop for the St. Maarten event.

Information/registration: www.f-cca.com.

Quintana Roo is scheduled to host the 2015 FCCA conference and trade show.