Tourism
From The Report: Mexico 2017
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Receiving more than 35m international visitors in 2016 – 2.8m more than in 2015 – Mexico continues to move up the world tourism league table. The country’s ranking in terms of arrivals in global tourism destinations improved from 10th to ninth position in 2016, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation. A weak peso has boosted margins for operators and attracted more visitors while at the same time bolstering domestic tourism in Mexico. The famous sun, sea and sand destinations of Cancún, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta continue to dominate the international tourism market, and new projects are set to expand capacity of this tried-and-tested model. This chapter includes interviews with Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, Minister of Tourism; and José Carlos Azcárraga Andrade, CEO, Grupo Posadas.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Strong performer: Efforts are under way to diversify the rapidly growing sector
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Receiving more than 35m international visitors in 2016 – 2.8m over 2015 – Mexico continues to move up the world tourism league table. The country’s ranking in terms of arrivals in global tourism destinations improved from 10th to ninth position in 2016, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation. A weak peso has boosted margins for operators and attracted more visitors while at the same time bolstering domestic tourism in Mexico. The famous sun, sea and sand destinations of Cancún, Los…

Overview

Enhancing the offering: Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, Minister of Tourism, on the sector’s potential going forward
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Interview:Enrique de la Madrid Cordero What steps are being taken to diversify Mexico’s tourist destinations and activities? ENRIQUE DE LA MADRID: Five destinations still represent 80% of tourist activity in the country and this clearly needs to change. This doesn’t mean we should de-prioritise beach areas; they are natural attractions for millions of tourists from Europe and North America escaping their winters. For nearly 50 years the Pueblos Mágicos (magical towns) programme has done…

Analysis

Feeling better already: Investing in expanding the medical tourism segment
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The global medical tourism industry is dynamic. According to research firm Allied Market Research, the global industry will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 15.7% to reach $143.8bn by 2022. In the US per capita health care spend stood at $10,345 in 2016, the highest in the world, and given the cost of health insurance, many US citizens choose to travel abroad for a range of treatments, from heart surgery to hip replacements, and for cosmetic treatments or wellness vacations. Patients Without…

Interview

Long-term investment: José Carlos Azcárraga Andrade, CEO, Grupo Posadas, on adapting the tourism sector to better respond to market trends
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Interview:José Carlos Azcárraga Andrade In addition to beaches and culture, what other areas can be leveraged to boost sector growth? JOSE CARLOS AZCÁRRAGA ANDRADE: Mexico´s tourism sector is much more than just Cancún and Los Cabos. Actually, two-thirds of tourism is business related. This segment is closely linked to Mexican economic activity, and that is why in the last few years tourism has grown significantly. A large part of this is the result of significant investments in the…

Analysis

Beyond the beach: Focusing on niche attractions to diversify the sector
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As Mexico works to diversify the country’s tourism offering beyond its world-famous resorts, towns such as Real de Catorce highlight the opportunities and challenges facing such a strategy. Real de Catorce is one of Mexico’s 111Pueblos Mágicos(magical towns), a group of villages identified by the Ministry of Tourism (Secretaría de Turismo, SECTUR) as having outstanding cultural riches, natural beauty or historical relevance. Surrounded by mountains, with a beautiful cathedral…