Mexico Foresees Megabuck Revenues out of Tourism in 2004

Mexican tourism authorities are hoping to rake in $10 billion and to create 5,000 new jobs in 2004, figures that will make the Aztec nation move up a notch from number eight to the seventh spot on the list of the world’s top tourist receivers, said Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, the country’s tourism secretary, and Enrique Alvarez Prieto, chairman of the National Tourist Corporate Council (CNET is the acronym in Spanish).

For his part, Zacatecas Governor Ricardo Monreal Avila stressed the travel industry’s position as one of the nation’s major hard-currency makers.

Both Mexican officials made those remarks during the closing ceremony of the 103rd Assembly of the National Chamber of Restaurants and Seasoned Foodstuffs Industry (CANIRAC) in which Rafael Saavedra was voted in for a second term at the helm of the group.

Mr. Torres indicated that his country’s tourist sector is hoping to crack the $10-billion mark by banking on agreements signed with four state tourism departments that combine for the promotion of thirty different travel destinations all across the nation.

Secretary Torres also explained that the country is intended to cash in on ongoing international trends in an effort to lure foreign tourists, a move that would save the nation up to 40 percent in spending compared to Europe. Nevertheless –he warned- authorities have no plans in mind to make Mexico an el cheapo travel destination for Canadians and Americans.