Why 2016 Is Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit's Year

Things are looking up for Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. In 2015, Puerto Vallarta hosted 3.6 million tourists, along with 136 cruise ship arrivals. The Mexico-Pacific coastal destinations are taking advantage of the increased interest and rolling out new hotels and property updates as well as tour offerings.

“I can say we’re officially recuperated from the 2009 to 2012 period [of economic downturn],” said Marc Murphy, managing director of Riviera Nayarit’s tourism board. “We’re on par with our numbers from 2008.” 

Earlier this year, the region held the 22nd Gala Vallarta event in honor of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit’s tourism industry. The annual event, which took place Jan. 27-29, drew more than 200 local providers who met with 130 international buyers representing 60 companies interested in doing business with the destinations. Officials spoke about several new hotels and attractions in the area, in addition to new offerings from local tour operators.

​Read more at TravelAge West.