Mexico Launches New 2012 Mundo Maya Tourism Campaign

Mexico Launches New 2012 Mundo Maya Tourism Campaign

Mexican President Felipe Calderon has unveiled Mundo Maya 2012 (Mayan World 2012), a new program to increase tourism and promote the Mayan Culture Legacy in Mexico through 2012. This focused campaign supports Mexico's goal to become one of the top-five most visited countries in the world. Mexico estimates that 52 million tourists will visit southeastern Mexico through 2012, spending approximately $23 million.

“Today we are the 10th power for tourism in the world, and we are working hard to be in the top five,” Calderon said. “We want the world to know the splendors of the Mayan civilization, with the end goal of positioning Mexico as a privileged and unique touristic destination." Cultural tourism predicted to increase to about 35 percent of Mexico's total tourism revenue over the next eight years.”

Between now and Dec. 21, 2012, when the Mayan calendar officially ends, the Mexican government will promote a variety of events in southeastern Mexico's “Mayan World,” which is made up of the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo and Yucatan. This region is home to six of Mexico's 27 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most found in any one country.

“This effort looks to give an unprecedented boost to tourism activity in the country's southeastern states, where this incredible civilization was established,” said Calderon. “We want tourists from Mexico and the world to know Mexico. We want them to explore the unrivaled riches that this magical region has to offer.”

In tandem with the campaign, Mexico is making an aggressive infrastructure investment in roads and facilities aimed at improving access to the various archeological sites within Mexico's Mayan World. It’s also developing projects to better showcase the Mayan Culture Legacy. Among the many projects being developed throughout the country as part of this campaign, Mexico is building the “Palace of Maya Civilization” and Museo del Mundo Maya.

It is expected that “Palace of Maya Civilization” will capture 20 percent of the 4,000 tourists who visit the site of Chichen Itza daily, while the museum of Mundo Maya is expected to receive 300,000 visitors per year, according to projections of Cultur (the Board of Units of Cultural and Tourist Services of the State of Yucatan). Similar infrastructure projects are expected to be developed in Chiapas, Campeche and Quintana Roo.

Through hosting international expositions, conferences, and meetings with leading researchers and specialists, the Mexican government also hopes to increase tourism to the region, which currently receives an average of 250,000 visitors a month. To improve the region's cultural offerings, Mexico will restore old archeological sites and open new ones, as well as promote dance festivals, concerts, theatrical performances and the region's traditional gastronomy. The hope is that the increased tourism will create jobs and stimulate the region both economically and socially.