The next Tianguis II

Puerto Vallarta and the Riviera Nayarit will host the next Tianguis tourism trade show, to be followed by Puebla and Quintana Roo (Cancun and the Riviera Maya). Vallarta, in Jalisco, and the neighboring Riviera in Nayarit are neighbors separated by a river and, if you want to get technical, they lie in adjoining time zones. No dates were announced. The event over the past 36 years has been held in March, April, May and June. Vallarta and its neighbor won by offering nearly 50,000 square feet of exhibition space free of charge, 50 percent discounts at hotels before, after and during the event and more. This will be the first time the trade show has not been held in Acapulco.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

A day at the LA County Arboretum

Queen Anne Cottage.

Meyberg Waterfall.

There always has been something calming about a day at the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden in Arcadia, California. If you have not visited the Arboretum put it on your list of 100 places to see before you die. If you have been to the Arboretum — but not recently — it’s time to get back.

I went back yesterday with my wife and 5-year-old granddaughter and it brought back memories of afternoons playing hooky from work in my younger days as a sports writer, sitting under an exotic tree by the lake, embracing the solitude.

It is a place for young and old. The 127 acres have paths to explore and unique plants and wildlife to discover.

My wife spent the warm early morning (the Arboretum opens at 9 a.m.) and midday heat reading under the shade of a tall tree with a view of one of the lakes or the reflection pool with its fountains.

My granddaughter and I roamed the paths in search of wildlife. My granddaughter, a water lover extraordinaire, could not resist the lakes and ponds that was home to turtles, ducks, swans, frogs, tadpoles and carp. Along the shore were herons and Canadian geese who decided to stay in Southern California rather than continue their migration north to Canada.

The Arboretum is peacock heaven. They own the place. Peacocks and peahens strut their stuff along the paths and through the gardens.

Meyberg Waterfall is a favorite spot for photography or relaxing by the falls. The famous Queen Anne Cottage, constructed in 1885, is an ornate example of Victorian extravagance set in a lakeside landscape. The cottage has been used in hundreds of movies and television shows.

The Los Angeles County Arboretum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, Adults $8, seniors (62 and older) $6, students $6, children (5 to 12) $3 and children 4 and under free. The tram ride is $4 and parking is free. Considering the cost of attractions these days, this is a pretty good bang for your buck.

— Stan Wawer

US blamed for tourism decline

The faltering U.S. economy is primarily to blame for any decline in international tourism, Tourism Minister Gloria Guevara maintains. The minister was in Oaxaca for the opening of the annual Guelaguetza dance festival. Fear of gang war violence is a factor, she said, but far worse is the unemployment rate and concern over what will happen if no agreement is reached regarding the U.S. debt limit. Virtually no tourists have been hurt by the gang wars, but many potential travelers are victims of poor economic conditions, she added.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Promotional visit

Tourism Minister Gloria Guevarra and Rodolfo López-Negrete, chief of the Mexican Tourism Board, will be visiting New York City, Washington, Los Ángeles, Seattle, Atlanta and Houston during the next few days. Goal is to drum up business. It is needed. The Ministry itself reports a 20 percent decline in traffic from the United States, an 18 percent decline at Mazatlan and similar figures at other airports. The percentages refer to arrivals during the first quarter of this year compared to 2010.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

The next Tianguis

Last Friday, the Tourism Ministry was expected to announce the location of the 2012 Tianguis Turistico trade show. Now the date for “the envelope, please” has been pushed forward to next Monday. During the past week, representatives of 17 of Mexico’s 31 states, plus the Federal District, presented proposals. The Ministry explained that all were so good that it has been difficult to reach a decision. For 36 years, the Tianguis took place in Acapulco, but attendance has been dropping off. Making it “itinerant” is supposed to change that. It also may touch off protests from all the states that are not selected.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

More magic

Mexico now has five more Pueblos Mágicos added to the 40 now in existence. Goal is to designate 52 by the end of this year. These magical towns are small communities, off normal tourism routes, but charming enough to warrant a detour. Designation brings with it a subsidy, but also requirements that certain standards be met. Towns themselves must improve their infrastructure, ban peddlers from the streets, eliminate gaudy outdoor advertising and the like. Those that fail to do so may lose both subsidy and the prized official designation.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Empty airports

Most airports in Mexico are privately operated as concession and most have seen a decline in traffic. One exception is federally operated Mexico City International, which is close to being saturated. And even in Mexico City, shop and restaurant owners report a decline in business now that Mexicana is not flying, Aeroméxico has moved to Terminal 2. Nearly 70 businesses have closed, owners blaming high rent and fewer customers. Elsewhere, even Cancun, second busiest airport in the country, reports business is down considerably since 2008, its best year. The new airport in Toluca is operating at one and one-third of its capacity while Cuernavaca reports almost no business at all.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Hopes for summer

With the summer vacation season about to be upon us, the Tourism Ministry is forecasting 34 million domestic travelers and 14.5 million vacationers from abroad will be heading for hotels. The private sector’s National Tourism Confederation prefers percentages, saying about three-quarters of all vacationers will be Mexicans with the rest coming from various countries around the world. The gloomy Central Bank, while making no predictions, announced that international travel to Mexico during the first quarter of the year declined by about 20 percent compared to 2010.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Aeroméxico reports

A 35 percent increase in the number of passengers carried during June was reported by Aeroméxico. International routes accounted for the biggest increase, 50 percent more than last year. Occupancy levels hit more the 78 percent. While not mentioned in reports, Aeroméxico clearly has benefitted from the absence of its major competitor, Mexicana Airlines. Aeroméxico itself had sought bankruptcy protection prior to being acquired by an investment group led by Banamex, which, in turn, is owned by Citibank.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Bright future promised

By 2018, Mexico will be playing host to 50 million international travelers annually and the industry will be contributing $40 billion yearly to the economy, Tourism Minister Gloria Guevarra told a convention of developers in Cancun recently. Her term as minister is due to expire at the end of November, 2012. According to the UN’s World Tourism Organization, the Mexican tourism industry is growing at a rate of 2.2 percent, about half the worldwide average. Tourism accounts for about 9 percent of Mexico’s gross national product.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Volaris gets Mexicana’s US slots

The U. S. Department of Transportation has authorized Volaris to operate Mexicana Airlines’ Monterrey-Chicago and Mexico City — Los Angeles and Mexico City — Las Vegas routes. Mexicana has been grounded for several months due to financial problems, but would get its routes back if it starts flying again. Volaris, a new, low-fare carrier, will now be able to offer service to seven U.S. cities, five of them in California.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Less crowded skies

Mexico’s commercial air fleet has shrunk by 40 percent with only 224 planes operating compared to 375 four years ago. Azteca, Aladia, Aerocalifornia, Avolar, Alma, Aviacsa, Nova Air, Mexicana, Click y Link no longer are flying. Airlines currently operating in Mexico are Aeroméxico, Aeroméxico Connect, Interjet, Volaris y VivaAerobus. Today marks the 90^th anniversary of the founding of what became Mexicana Airlines.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Ad agency named

Zenith, part of the Publicis International Group, has been named the advertising agency to promote tourism to Mexico, according to press reports. Neither the agency nor the Mexico Tourism Board has confirmed this. Pending is the designation of a public relations agency, one whose contract would extend from last May 11 until the same date in 2013.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Cancun to get religion

The Vatican has selected Cancun as venue for the Seventh World Pastoral Tourism Congress, to be held from April 23 to 27 next year. Tourism, Vatican officials said, brings together people of different cultures, helping to promote peace and understanding. Not yet announced is how many participants are expected in what generally is considered a hedonistic destination.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Acapulco loses again

The Supreme Court has rejected a plea that Acapulco be allowed to keep the Tianguis trade show. Since the event has always been organized and paid for by the Federal Tourism Ministry, the court ruled that Acapulco has no claim to it. The event now will be held in a different venue every year, something that Tourism Minister Gloria Guevarra says should restore what has been declining interest. Acapulco authorities, for their part, have announced that they will organize their own version of the Tianguis.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Aeroméxico moves in

Increased service from Monterrey and two daily non-stops from Cancun to Miami have been announced by Aeroméxico. Both San Antonio and Miami had “belonged” to Mexicana Airlines as far as Mexico was concerned. Efforts continue to revive Mexicana, and efforts also continue to take over its slots at many airports it once served.

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Jimm Budd

Reportint from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Was Mall mauled?

Spanish developer Grupo Mall charges that the federal and state governments never came through with promises to build highway access, bring in electricity and help with the fresh water supply at Mall’s planned project along the Campeche shore on the Gulf of Mexico. Started in 2005, the Campeche Beach, Golf, Marina and Spa Resort should have been operational by now. Appeals have been made to the president of the republic for help, with hints that Mall may take its case to the World Bank.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers