Progreso Coast: Tourists Flock, Locals Thrive

Yesterday, the coastal town of Progreso welcomed the Grandeur of the Seas, a cruise ship from the Royal Caribbean company, which sailed in directly from Tampa, Florida. According to official reports from Progreso's National Port System Administration (Asipona), the ship arrived at 6:45 in the morning and departed at 4 in the afternoon, setting course for the island of Cozumel where passengers will continue their journey.

This marked the ship's second visit to the Yucatan region, bringing with it 2,356 passengers and 776 crew members, totaling 3,232 visitors. These passengers spent a delightful day, mostly in the area of the traditional Malecon, where approximately 600 cruise ship passengers dispersed themselves.

The day proved to be quite profitable for local street vendors, craftsmen, service providers, furniture renters, masseurs, and waitstaff. Nearly all workers on the traditional Malecon had the opportunity to make a sale, a stark contrast to previous cruise ship visits.

However, it wasn't just foreign tourists who enjoyed the day. Locals also flocked to the area. Rosalia Ake Sosa, a resident from the Yucatan capital, expressed her surprise at the influx of foreigners.

"We decided to visit the port today to avoid the weekend crowds and heavy traffic, but we were surprised. I pointed out to my daughter, 'look, the foreigners are here', and she showed me the cruise ship," she said. "Although it's far away, it looks impressive. I bet it's beautiful on the inside. It's a shame we can't go see it."

She added, "We visit the port two or three times a year, but this is the first time I've seen so many foreigners here. It's great that they enjoy the beach. Hopefully, they'll visit more often so local merchants can benefit."

As a teacher currently on vacation, Sosa enjoys weekday trips, although she's careful about her spending. The day passed without incident, with no problems reported between visitors and local merchants, despite the noticeable absence of security during the holiday season.