Promotion budget announced

Mexico will invest 1.6 billion pesos (about 1.23 million dollars) in its upcoming tourism promotion campaigns, Tourism Minister Gloria Guevara told El Financiero, a Mexico City daily, during a visit to Toronto. Emphasis will be on promoting the ten “tourist routes” the minister has been touting, the idea being to show that Mexico has more to offer than beaches. While tour operators agree, several have pointed out that beaches are what travelers to Mexico want.

While in Canada, the minister also stopped off in Montreal on a swing that also took her to Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. The Canadian market is increasingly important to Mexico. Conversely, since Canada imposed stringent visa restrictions, the number of Mexican pleasure travelers to Canada has declined dramatically.

By Jimm Budd