New York, U.S.A. - Mexico's Ministry of Tourism has reported that Puerto Vallarta had 1,129,649 hotel room occupancies in the months of January to May 2013. This figure is 11,115 rooms more than the same time period in 2012; the months of June and July have had an average occupancy rate of 1.8% above last year. It also reported 790,102 tourist arrivals during the first half of 2013, an 8.46% increase compared to 2012 figures.

Based on a successful first half of the year and an ambitious promotional campaign dedicated to local and foreign markets, Puerto Vallarta projects an 80% hotel occupancy rate and $78.6 million USD influx into the local economy during the rest of this year's Summer season.

Puerto Vallarta is increasingly becoming more accessible for travelers as improvements continue to be made to the destination's access points and infrastructure. The destination has heavily invested in renovations to sea ports as well as the addition of new flight frequencies and routes.

Delta airlines began servicing 9 daily nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Puerto Vallarta in June, with a total capacity for 150 passengers each. Beginning in May 2014, Delta will offer two weekly flights from Great Britain projected to bring 12,000 passengers during the summer season. In the Fall, new flights will also start with Aeromexico from New York's JFK as well from other cities like Philadelphia and St. Louis.

Further changes in infrastructure include the addition of 3 new hotels totaling an 8.7 billion USD investment by the end of 2013. These properties will be the 125 room One Hotel, a new 115 room Holiday Inn Express, and a new Dreams chain hotel located next to the Sheraton Buganvilias Resort.

The destination's natural beauty, exquisite gastronomy, superb service and people's warmth are highlighted in the national campaign "Puerto Vallarta, Mexico's Most Authentic Port" through niche media and digital marketing platforms.

Puerto Vallarta's prime location, nestled between the Bay of Banderas, one of the world's largest bays, and the lush Sierra Madre Mountains, offers a magical and unique Mexican setting where travelers can experience the destination's world class infrastructure, attractions and services.