Texas alone has issued more than 900,000 hunting licenses compared to only 40,000 for all of Mexico. What is a billion dollar segment in the USA generates at most 30 million dollars in Mexico. Those who would like to see more hunters hunting in Mexico will be meeting in Monterrey this week to see what can be done.

By Jimm Budd

This being the final year in the Maya calendar, Maya destinations are expected to attract more than 50 million domestic and international tourists who will leave behind as much as 15 billion dollars, according to projections by the federal Tourism Ministry.

By Jimm Budd

Alejandro Rojas has resigned as director of the Mexico City (technically Federal District) tourism office. Rojas apparently disagrees with the method by which his Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) will select its candidate to govern the District. Election takes place in July. The PRD has ruled Mexico City ever since the capital became self-governing a few years ago. Statistics show that more foreign tourists arrive in Mexico City than anywhere else in the country. Few stay very long.

By Jimm Budd

Interjet, one of the largest of the new low-fare airlines, plans to initiate daily flights to Miami next week. This will be its second U.S. destination. Internationally, Interjet also flies to Guatemala City and Havana. Founded six years ago, the airline now has a fleet of 33 Airbus A320s serving 40 routes and 28 destinations.

By Jimm Budd

Speaking of trade shows, the International Tourism Fair in Mexico City is being reorganized. The first three editions were marred by disorganization and poor attendance. The next one is scheduled to start Nov. 15, two weeks before the current local and federal administrations are replaced by new ones. It will have a new name (Mexico City Tourism Fair) and be held in a new location (Banamex Center). It remains to be seen whether the fair itself will survive until 2013.

By Jimm Budd

According to the Tourism Ministry, 80 percent of the available exhibit space for this year’s Tianguis trade show has been sold and at least 50 percent more buyers are expected compared to last year. The even gets underway on March 25 in Puerto Vallarta  and the neighboring Riviera Nayarit. This is the first time the show has not been held in Acapulco and it is the new venue that is credited with attracting fresh interest.

By Jimm Budd

Expect San Miguel de Allende and everyplace else in Guanajuato to fill up when the Pope arrives in León on March 23. He will limit his Mexico visit to one state, commemorating – without quite saying so – the outbreak of the Church vs State wars that began in the 1920s with the dedication of the Christ the King monument atop Cubilete Mountain. Peace has since been restored.

By Jimm Budd

Mexico City authorities are predicting that the local meeting and convention business will grow by ten percent this year, bringing something like a billion dollars into the capital. The World Trade Center, Banamex and Bancomer centers, the Banamex center alone boasting a capacity for 50,000 people.

By Jimm Budd

For the eighth consecutive year, the Riviera Maya has been selected “best destination in Mexico” by readers of the trade publication Travel Weekly. The Riviera extends along the Caribbean shore of Quintana Roo south of Cancun all the way to Tulum, some 60 miles distant. It is dotted with many lavish – and some not so lavish – all-inclusive resorts. Playa del Carmen is the only town of any size in the area.

By Jimm Budd

With the New Year, airport use fees will rise, starting with Mexico City, where the hike is 3.5 percent. Domestic passengers will pay 15.43 dollars, those going abroad $18.99. The figures sound odd, but the fee is in dollars, not pesos. It can vary from airport to airport. Mexico City International – the busiest in the country – is federally operated. Most others are concessions run by private firms. The fee usually is bundled in with the ticket price.

By Jimm Budd