Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Official policies criticized


The directors of Best Western in Mexico and the Misión Hotel Group have joined with a former tourism undersecretary in complaining that official policy is geared more toward increasing visitor numbers than in overall earnings. Francisco Madrid, who moved from the Tourism Ministry to head the School of Tourism at Anahuac University, pointed out that while average visitor spending in Australia is $4,571 and in the United States $1,700, Mexico takes in only $575. Australia, he noted, ranks only 40th in visitor arrivals but is eighth in tourism earnings.

Gonzalo Brockman at Best Western lamented that so much emphasis has been placed on all-inclusive packages while Misión Hotels’ Roberto Zapata deplored the lack of infrastructure that limits mass travel outside of beach areas. They argue that Mexico needs to focus on attracting affluent visitors more concerned with value than with economy, people interested in traveling less traveled roads as long as these are paved.

--
Jimm Budd
Reporting from mexico City
Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

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