A case has been documented, and the state agency is urging travelers to book hotel rooms only on secure websites.
The Sinaloa Tourism Secretariat has registered a case of fraud related to sales, tourism promotions, and hotel reservations offered through social media in Mazatlán.
The head of the agency, Mireya Sosa Osuna, called on those planning to visit Mazatlán to exercise extreme caution when booking lodging or purchasing vacation packages online, especially on social media, where the authenticity of promotions cannot always be verified.
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She recommended that hotel reservations be made only through official and secure websites, such as the Visit Mazatlán platform, specifically in the section called “Secure Reservation,” where accredited hotels and tourism service providers are registered.
“I urge all users, clients, and consumers to book on secure websites. We’ve had an issue, which has already been reported to me, of fraudulent sales through social media. When a hotel posts promotions on Facebook, we can’t be sure it’s a reputable establishment,” he said.
Sosa Osuna explained that the establishments included on this platform have guaranteed purchase processes, which would provide greater certainty for consumers as they approach the upcoming summer vacation season, a period when the demand for lodging in the port city increases considerably.
He noted that, although only one case of fraud has been documented so far in 2016, this is enough to alert the public about practices that affect both tourists and the image and tourism industry of Mazatlán. He therefore emphasized the importance of fostering a culture of prevention and secure purchasing.
The state official reiterated the importance of users verifying that hotels or agencies have the National Tourism Registry, an official document that accredits tourism service providers and offers greater guarantees to those who make reservations or purchases online.
Source: OEM
