Mexico Doubles Down on Tourism

By STAFF REPORT

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has begun putting some real focus and muscle behind the country’s expanding tourism industry, which accounts for 9 percent of the country’ GDP.

Pena Nieto unveiled last week Mexico’s national tourism policy, saying he’s sees major benefits from opening the country to the world. Mexico believes that tourism could prove to be a key driver of its economic growth in the years ahead.

The Latin American country has also devised plans to develop and promote tourism sites in its territory and bolster efforts to attract visitors from the United States and Canada.

The president has set up a committee to oversee and coordinate the effort to grow tourism . Mexico says it also wants to capitalize on the growing popularity of eco-tourism in the region.

“We have a privileged geographical location, great potential for connectivity, a broad inventory of natural, historic and cultural attractions, but, moreover, our country has demonstrated a great ability to generate quality tourism products,” Latin American Herald Tribune quoted the president as saying.

The government is planning to encourage the private sector to take part in the development of the tourism industry.

President said he had instructed the Tourism Secretariat to draw up a plan detailing the number of tourist destinations in the country, their needs and the markets they want to target.