Bargain prices

Why do tourists keep coming to Mexico in spite of the violence? During the past few years, the narcotics wars have taken an estimated 30,000 lives. Taking a look at the situation, the British magazine “Economist” explained that the cost of a Mexican holiday is 5 percent lower than it was two years ago and the risks from being killed by a stray bullet are virtually nil. Mexican hoteliers, for their part, are ready to increase rates during the next few months.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Investment down

Investment in new tourism-related projects along Mexico’s shores is in decline. From Los Cabos in Baja California to the Riviera Maya along the Caribbean, work on several projects has stopped. Most observers blame this on worldwide economic conditions. On top of that, according to Alejandro Zozaya, president of AM Resorts, as quoted in one newspaper, Mexico is losing its allure for investors. “Taxes are up, incentives down, there are fewer seats in airplanes and the peso stronger against the dollar,” Zozaya is said to have said.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Cheery numbers

About 22.6 million tourists, 80 percent of them from the United States and Canada, are expected to have visited Mexico by the end of 2010. As of September, inbound tourism was up 18.8 percent compared with 2009 (the worst year on record) and 6 percent better than 2008. Arrivals from Canada are up almost 22 percent over 2009 and 32 percent over 2008, with 1 million air arrivals this year. And, despite the much-publicized bankruptcy of Mexicana Airlines earlier this year, air arrivals from the U.S. were up 15 percent compared with 2009. The growth in visitors from other countries is even greater. Italy is up 22 percent; Germany, 18 percent and Brazil, 94 percent.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

More hospitals needed

Although some 40,000 Americans underwent surgical procedures in Mexico last year, the country needs more certified hospitals if the potential for medical tourism is to be developed, experts say. Only 74 of the 3,700 private hospitals in the country have been certified so that insurance companies in the United States can benefit from the lower fees available in Mexico. “Hospitals have not been certified because they do not know how to go about it,” explained Jaime Carter, president of Health Diagnostic Systems.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Busy week for Cancun

This may be a good time to postpone plans for a Cancun holiday until the middle of next month. The United Nations Conference of Climate Change opens Nov. 29. It is expected to attract 20,000 delegates, official representatives and press. Among these may be as many as 150 heads of government. More than 200 countries have been invited. Protestors (those opposed to climate change) are being told to stay away.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Earnings up from tourism

Travelers from abroad spent an estimated $9 billion in Mexico during the first three quarters of the year, according to the Tourism Ministry. This was 7.7 percent more than was spent during the same period in 2009. Biggest increase came from cruise ship passengers, who spent $393 million, 28 percent more than the previous year. Nonetheless, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization, concern about violence is keeping many potential visitors home. Airline executives interviewed for a newspaper article agreed that concern over violence is hurting ticket sales. The number of foreign visitors arriving in Mexico by air between January and August increased by 19.2 percent, according to the Tourism Ministry. The total was 7,104,038.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers

Recognition for Mexican fare

Mexican cuisine (pardon my French) has won recognition from UNESCO as part of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” Also included was the Parachicos Festival held annually in Chapa del Corzo, Chiapas, and traditional songs of the Purépecha (Tarascans) of Michoacán. UNESCO added many more items to the list, including French cuisine.

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Jimm Budd

Reporting from Mexico City

Member of the Society of American Travel Writers