USA TODAY International Edition
Wilma leaves clouds over peak- season tourism
Days after Wilma pummeled Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and tore across Florida, the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record has become an ominous cloud on the regions’ tourism horizons.
As storm- tossed destinations from Cancun to Palm Beach gear up for the peak winter season, some already are trolling for visitors, while others will be out of commission for months.
Since communications and power are still down or spotty in many of the affected areas, detailed damage assessments for hotels and tourist attractions remain elusive.
Visitor evacuations continue in Mexico, where devastated Cancun, Cozumel and the lesser- damaged burgeoning coastal resort area to the south known as the Mayan Riviera, account for onethird of the country’s $11 billion annual tourism revenue. Cleanup: A damaged awning is removed at a motel near Fort Lauderdale.
Most Cancun hotelswill need repairs. Airlines and tour operators are scrambling to re- accommodate travelers, with some airports still trying to return to normal operations.
Expedia. com is waiving cancellation fees for bookings to the Yucatan through Dec. 15 and to Florida cities including Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West, through Sunday. Milwaukee-based Funjet Vacations is canceling trips to the Yucatan through Monday and letting passengers rebook without penalty on departures through Dec. 16.
In Mexico, tour companies are redirecting travelers to such Paci 6 c Coast resort areas as Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco.
Popular tourist spots in Florida, including Orlando and Amelia Island, had little or no damage from Wilma’s ferocious dash across the southern part of the state.
Expected detours to other destinations already have sparked incentives in storm-affected areas and speculation about high- season deals, as well.
For example, in Miami’s South Beach, where 85% of hotels are open, the Clinton Hotel and Spa is offering a weekday Wilma Special at $125 a night.
In Mexico’s Mayan Riviera, the Turquoise Reef Group, a reservations agent for several small hotels, is offering a free night’s lodging to guests who already have made a deposit on a future stay.
With this week’s reopening of major ports in Miami and Fort Lauderdale ( which expect to be back today or Saturday), most South Florida cruises are due to depart this weekend as scheduled.
However, storm damage has forced lines to cancel calls at Cozumel, a mainstay on Western Caribbean runs.
Meanwhile, in the 6 nal weeks of what has been a record- breaking hurricane season, tourism of 6 cials are putting on a sunny face: “ The trees grow back, and you 6 x up what needs to be 6 xed,” says William Talbert, head of the Greater Miami tourism bureau. “ The good news is, we live in paradise. And, sometimes, the bad news is, we live in paradise.”