Mexico Surpasses Targets for Tourist Arrivals, Private Investment in Tourism Projects

The Mexico Ministry of Tourism reports that private investment for the development and maintenance of tourism projects in the period January 2007 to September 2012 reached $20,129,900,000 USD, a figure that exceeds the established six-year target of 20 billion dollars.

In the period from January to September alone, cumulative investment reached $1,820,340,000 USD.

This investment was directed to the development of 1,146 projects, strengthening Mexico's tourism offering in order to attract a greater number of visitors and fulfill the commitments outlined in the National Agreement on Tourism.

Of the total investment during the month of September, 75.9 percent corresponds to national capital, while the remaining investment corresponds to foreign capital.

Destinations in central Mexico captured 30.7 percent of total resources, beach destinations 35.1 percent, Mayan regions 20.9 percent, and the northern border 13.3 percent.

These private sector investments are complemented by the tourist programs and products developed during the administration of President Felipe Calderon, such as the ten Routes of Mexico, the Mundo Maya program, the 18 Gastronomic Routes and the strengthening of the Magic Towns, among others, that strengthen Mexico's tourism offering.

The Mexico Ministry of Tourism reports that from January 2007 to September 2012, Mexico received 130.6 million international tourists, up 12.1 percent compared to the same period of the previous administration.

The flow of tourists staying overnight in Mexico registered an increase of 18.3 percent reaching 75.5 million people, compared to 63.8 million registered from January 2001 to September 2006.

Foreign exchange earnings from international visitors totaled $71,027,000,000 USD, representing an increase of 22.1 percent compared to $58,163,000,000 during the previous administration.

From January 2007 to September 2012, the average expenditure of cruise passengers to Mexico reached 81.7 dollars, an increase of 30.6 percent compared to the same period the prior term.

Cruise passenger spending generated revenues of $2,793,000,000 USD, 41.6 percent higher than $1,972,000,000 USD generated in revenue from January 2001 to September 2006.

During the month of September, the flow of tourists staying overnight in Mexico showed an increase of 6.2 percent compared to the same month the prior year.

Foreign exchange earnings from international visitors increased from 678 million dollars during 2011 to 748 million dollars in September 2012, representing an increase of 10.3 percent.