Background on Acapulco and Hurricane Otis
Acapulco, a popular beach destination in Guerrero, Mexico, was severely impacted by Hurricane Otis in October 2023. Two years later, the city has made significant strides in rebuilding its hotel infrastructure.
Current Status of Hotel Infrastructure
As of now, Acapulco boasts 16,200 hotel rooms across 290 hotels, representing an approximately 18% deficit compared to the pre-Otis count of 19,700 rooms. The mayor of Acapulco, Abelina López Rodríguez, reported this progress while visiting Querétaro to announce a direct flight between the two destinations.
Recovery Goals and Strategies
The mayor aims to reach 17,000 hotel rooms by 2026, which would reflect an 86% increase from the pre-hurricane count. She attributes this accelerated recovery to federal strategies, such as the “Acapulco se Transforma Contigo” program.
Infrastructure Improvements and Future Events
In addition to hotel reconstruction, Acapulco is focusing on infrastructure improvements, including the renovation of sidewalks and a 1.8 billion-peso investment in potable water systems. The mayor believes that by 2026, Acapulco will have the necessary hotel infrastructure, thanks in part to Hurricane Otis, which spurred significant investment.
The city anticipates a boost in tourism due to upcoming events, such as the 2026 ATP Mexican Open, which generates approximately 900 million pesos in a week, and the return of the Tianguis Turístico.
Restoration of Air Links
In alignment with recovery strategies, Transportes Aéreos Regionales (TAR) will resume the Querétaro-Acapulco route starting December 4, which was previously operational from 2014 to 2020 before being suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. This restoration resulted from eight months of collaborative efforts between the governments of both destinations and the airline.
Another objective is to establish the Querétaro-Acapulco route as a connection point for travelers exchanging between the port city and the Bajío region, with Iberojet’s Querétaro-Madrid flight set to resume by the end of December.
Decentralization Strategy and Tourism Indicators
Simón Quiñones Orozco, the Secretary of Tourism for Guerrero, discussed a decentralization strategy that aims to develop and professionalize 49 municipalities with tourism potential.
In terms of tourism indicators, Guerrero ranked first in national tourism capture during the first half of the year and second in investment projects, with 62 projects worth 2.547 billion dollars by September.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current status of Acapulco’s hotel infrastructure? Acapulco currently has 16,200 hotel rooms across 290 hotels, which is approximately an 18% deficit compared to the pre-Hurricane Otis count of 19,700 rooms.
- What are the recovery goals for Acapulco’s hotel infrastructure? The mayor aims to reach 17,000 hotel rooms by 2026, representing an 86% increase from the pre-hurricane count.
- What strategies are being employed to accelerate Acapulco’s recovery? Federal strategies, such as the “Acapulco se Transforma Contigo” program, are contributing to the accelerated recovery.
- What events are expected to boost tourism in Acapulco? Upcoming events, such as the 2026 ATP Mexican Open and the return of Tianguis Turístico, are anticipated to increase tourism.
- What air links have been restored for Acapulco? The Querétaro-Acapulco route, previously operated by Transportes Aéreos Regionales (TAR), will resume on December 4. Additionally, Iberojet’s Querétaro-Madrid flight is set to resume by the end of December.
- What is Guerrero’s decentralization strategy in tourism? The strategy focuses on developing and professionalizing 49 municipalities with tourism potential.
- How have Guerrero’s tourism indicators performed? Guerrero ranked first in national tourism capture during the first half of the year and second in investment projects, with 62 projects worth 2.547 billion dollars by September.
