Mexico Tourism

FITA

The Third annual International Tourism Fair of the Americas (FITA) wound up yesterday. The Mexico City government, which organized the event, declared it was an outstanding success that attracted some 3,500 potential buyers of travel services. Among these were 500 from abroad. In all, more than 15,000 people reportedly attended the fair. Journalistic colleagues who actually were there say this may have been an exaggeration. Unlike the Tianguis Turistico, held in the spring to promote destinations in Mexico, FITA aims to be more international. The event was held at the Bancomer Centro in the new, flourishing Santa Fe district, which is difficult to reach from other parts of the capital.

Tourism Ministry lambasted

Two former tourism ministers — Silvia Hernández and Oscar Espinoza, along with Pablo Azcárraga, president of the Tourism Business Council and a leading hotelier — all criticized the performance of the Tourism Ministry, whose leaders will be replaced when a new administration takes over in December. The current ministry, they declared, has done a poor job promoting Mexico. It has covered its flaws with inflated statistics. The three spoke at a forum during the International Tourism Fair of the Americas held this weekend in Mexico City.

Cervantes Festival

A week from today, the 40^th annual Cervantes Festival starts in Guanajuato, continuing through Oct. 21. The festival attracts artists of all types (performing, etc.) from around the world. Guanajuato, a picturesque provincial capital, appears to some to have been invented by Cervantes (he of Don Quixote fame).

Dragon port

Concern is being expressed by some over a Chinese proposal to build a $200 million facility for container ships near Puerto Morelos, just beyond Cancun and currently gateway to the Riviera Maya. It would be expected to handle about 50,000 containers annually and include warehouses and housing units. State officials insist that there would be no environmental damage and that the project would benefit Quintana Roo, now almost entirely dependent on tourism.

Governors suggest…

The Conference of Governors delivered several proposals to Enrique Peña Nieto, who takes over as President Dec. 1. Among other things they urged that reciprocal agreements for international pre-clearance at some airports be initiated, along with increased air and land access to the country, better training for customs and immigration officials and eliminating visa requirements for citizens of as many countries as possible. As these suggestions were being made, the Tourism Ministry announced that hotel occupancy rates have increased by 8 percent during the first three quarters of the year, meaning that they reached a record high.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting From Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers