Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The three cruise ships that were welcomed to Puerto Vallarta's API Maritime Terminal on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 - and the 3,500 visitors they brought with them - were a sign of more to come.

Puerto Vallarta has been gaining ground in the international cruise industry in recent years, and this year will be no exception with 144 cruises carrying 202,100 passengers expected to visit the port city in 2017.

It is worth mentioning that the definitive number of boats and the number of passengers usually goes up as the cruise ships arrive; some are scheduled at the last minute and then the number of cruise passengers can be ascertained.

Several years ago, Mexico's cruise industry took a hit due to concerns about the safety of some ports, along with negative perceptions about Mexico in general and increased competition from destinations elsewhere. But thanks to a joint effort by state and federal tourism officials, the cruise tourism industry has been rebounding steadily.

The Federal Ministry of Tourism, the Jalisco Ministry of Tourism, along with the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust (Fidetur), sales agents specialized in cruise tourism and private initiatives, have been working together over the past several years to convey the message that Puerto Vallarta, and the other two ports that make up the Mexican Pacific itinerary - Los Cabos and Mazatlan - are safe places to enjoy unforgettable vacation experiences that you just can't find in other destinations.

Surveys conducted by the cruise ship companies and the API itself indicate that the majority of cruise passengers have reported great experiences in Puerto Vallarta, which means there's a distinct possibility that they'll come back with their families to spend longer periods of time here.

According to University of Guadalajara statistics, each cruise passenger spends an average of $85 USD during their visit to Puerto Vallarta, which represents an economic influx of more than 17 million dollars per year.

The Fidetur and the API will continue working as a team in every aspect of the promotion of this destination know as "The Most Mexican Port," seeking to attract more cruises and the consequent benefits they bring to the people of Puerto Vallarta.