CPTM

:: Tourism in Mexico

Tourism is one of the most important and dynamic economic sectors in the world today, both for its level of investment, job creation and earnings potential, and for its contribution to regional development. It accounts for some 11 percent of world production and generates one job in 11. It has been estimated that over the next 20 years, 1.6 million tourists will travel the world, spending two trillion dollars.

Tourism’s importance to the Mexican economy is unquestionable. Its benefits are reflected not only as an industry that generates employment and spurs regional development, but also because of its role in spreading information about the country’s cultural and natural attractions.

Mexico offers a broad range of tourist attractions. These include the heritage of pre-Columbian civilizations and development of archaeological sites as symbols of national identity, the incomparable beauty of its beaches, the combination of vestiges of millenary cultures with major cities, extensive areas of natural beauty with historical elements that make them unique, and world-class tourism infrastructure.

Tourism accounts for more than 8 percent of Mexico’s Gross Domestic Product and more than 9 percent of direct and indirect employment. The number of tourists who visited Mexico so far in 2008 is estimated to have been 16.844 million, a 5.2 percent increase on the previous year, and international visitors spent 10.3 billion dollars, a 6.3 percent increase on the 2007 period.

Mexico ranks as number 10 in the world for visits by foreign tourists and number 17 in terms of earnings from tourism.

Promotion of tourism plays an important role in maintaining and consolidating Mexico as a world power by generating ever-increasing demand for the country’s destinations and attractions.