Indigenous Tourism Webpage

For those with a minimal grasp of Spanish, www.rita.com.mx opens a new panorama for exploring Mexico. “Rita” stands for “Indigenous Tourism Network of Mexico,” and “Indigenous” are the people the Spaniards called Indians. Active in about half the states of the republic, the network offers guided tours, explanations (in Spanish) about native traditions and customs, usually followed by a truly Mexican feast. In some areas, accommodations are available. They tend to be rather basic.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Promotion plans announced — again

Tourism Minister Gloria Guevara has announced plans to join with private enterprise and with other ministries to emphasize Mexico’s appeal as a convention destination as well as to attempt to lure in more cruise lines as well as student travelers. Details of this program, she said, will be revealed shortly.

In addition, the minister added, the Mexican Tourism Board will be seeking bids from advertising and public relations agencies to promote Mexico travel in both foreign and domestic markets.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Fiesta Month

Traditionally, September is Patriotic Month in Mexico. It will be especially so the country observes the bicentennial of the outbreak of the Independence War and the centennial of the Revolution that made Mexico what it is today. Tourists visiting the country will encounter flag-waiving and more everywhere. Big day is Independence Day, Sept. 16, but the celebration begins the night before, when, at 11 p.m. what might be translated as “The Cry for Freedom” is shouted from city hall balconies, state houses and the National Palace. Long-ruling President Porfirio Diaz began the custom because Sept. 15 was his birthday. The Revolution ended the administration of Porfirio Diaz.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Mexicana grounded

This weekend the new owners of Mexicana Airlines and its two affiliates, Click and Link, announded the suspension of all operations until further notice. Management said that it had been unable to reach an agreement with pilots and flight attendants unions nor with creditors. This probably means the end of one of the world’s oldest airlines. Mexicana traces its routes back to 1921, when what evolved into a major carrier was organized to fly payrolls to oil workers on the Gulf Coast, thus avoiding bandits who lurked on the highways.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

My favorite hotels around the world

Listed here are my top 10 hotels around the world.

1. The Ritz of London

2. Park Hotel Vitznau, Lake Lucerne, Switzerland

3. The Dorchester, London

4. Sonnenalp Resort of Vail Hotel, Vail, CO

5. Hotel Plaza Athenee, Paris

6. Le Meurice, Paris

7. Ritz-Carlton Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

8. Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff, Alberta, Canada

9. Vail Cascade Resort & Spa, Vail, CO

10. The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, VA

Retirement home sales tumble

Interviewed during the RCI Luxury Marketing Symposium, Eugene Towle, director of the Softec consulting firm, observed that sales of retirement homes to foreigners — primarily Americans and Canadians — have fallen from 18,000 units in 2008 to what may be 4,000 by the end of 2010. Builders of these homes previously employed some 4,000 workers, a figure that has dropped to 1,000. Blamed for the decline is the overall economic situation along with the soaring crime rate in Mexico.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

New attractions for Copper Canyon

The opening of the first phase of an adventure park for Copper Canyon has been delayed for at least a month. While work is advanced on the construction of a 2.8 kilometer long aerial gondola, it is still not quite ready. Delayed, too, is completion of five zip lines and a new train station at Divisadero, where the park will be located. Next month construction is scheduled to begin on an airport.

Copper Canyon, actually several canyons that are four times bigger than the one in Arizona, attracts an estimated 300,000 visitors annually. That area was opened with the completion of a rail line in 1961. Since then, it has become a favorite destination. Thus far, some $20 million have been invested in getting the park started. Goal is to increase visitor stays from one night to three nights.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers