Although dollar earnings from tourism during the first five months of this year are better than they were in 2009, Mexico has yet to catch up to 2008. The Tourism Ministry is making much of figures showing that 2010 is shaping up to be much better than 2009, but 2009 was the worst year in history. A flu scare left many resort hotels almost empty and some actually closed, although temporarily. This year, international arrivals are 17 percent less than in 2008. The good news is that tourism brought 7 percent more money into the country than it did in 2008.
Statistics, based on a World Tourism Organization formula, fail to reflect reality, or so say some in the industry. Totals include border crossers and cruise ship passengers. Border crossings have fallen sharply, the result of violence associated with drug smuggling and organized crime. Making things worse has been the recent flooding in areas south of eastern Texas. The rampaging Rio Grande has threatened the existence of many border bridges.
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Jimm Budd
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