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 Introduction - Alliances & Investments - Expanding frontiers - Free market -
Telecom and transport - Banking - Energy sector - Tourism - States of Opportunities -
Agro Industry - Multinationals - Industrial States 
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Interview with
Lic. Oscar Espinosa Villareal,
Minister of Tourism
December 8th, 1999
Website : www.sectur.gob.mx
| Is the tourism in Mexico the second way of receiving foreign currency in the country, after the export of petro-chemical?
certainly, in 1998 the export of manufactured articles had the first place, it was followed by tourism and then by petroleum. However, we can foresee that within 1999 the recuperation of the petroleum prices will permit to have more money coming from the petroleum. This is a real source to get currencies for the country. We reached already almost 8 billion dollars last year. Therefore, we think that we will probably obtain the same amount or even more this year; so far we are going in the same way as last year, it represents when you have deduced all that Mexicans spent abroad, a balance in excess of a little higher than 3500 millions dollars.
Lots of people consider that Mexico is one of the main tourism destinations in Central America. What sort of tourism does it offer compared to the other countries of Latin America?
if we take into account the number of International visitors, our country has the seventh place in the worldwide level, indeed there are only six countries in the world which have more International visitors than us, now then we have the first place in the Latin America market.
Specifically, our main competitor, in the American continent after the United States of America and after Canada, is Caribbean because they have a product similar to ours. Nevertheless, our situation is more advantageous because we offer some attractive archaeological, ethnic of flora and fauna more diverse than the one which already exists in the rest of the Caribbean. For example, the archaeological places of the Maya’s world, next to the Caribbean, gives us a real advantage. Indeed, they bring us an important number of tourists. Moreover we have to acknowledge that the fact the Europeans could know these wonderful places in the area of Caribbean Maya represents a real interest for us. From there, our promotion will be emphasized in Europe next year.
Regarding the European tourists, Will the agreement on free trade with the European Union increase the inflow of tourism in Mexico ?
I am sure of that, however, the subject of the Treaty is not tourism. Our tourism has been opened for several years, external investments are received well, at this time there are some here. I think the business relation between Europe and Mexico will promote more business travels, a better knowledge of the Mexican products. Therefore the advertising campaigns which give promotion to the country will increase and the consequence of that will be the raise the flow of tourism?
With that promotion in Europe, could you give us the speculative figures of tourists who came last year, knowing that most of them are from the USA and Canada?
I think that within the year 2000, the number of Europeans could increase with an average of between 15 and 20%. These markets are very dynamic, but they are not in absolute words, the biggest such as the Italian market which has already been increasing of 30% annually for several years>
How many tourists, in annual figures, come to Mexico?
In total there are 19.8 of International tourists, among them 87% come from the USA and 13% from the rest of the world. In the other side, there is a real positive aspect which is the privatization of the Mexican airports, many European are already participating with a true interest, mainly from Spain, from the Netherlands and from Denmark: they will probably promote Mexico.
Regarding the investments in the sector what are the opportunities for the foreign investors and what are the advantages and the drawbacks?
Additionally to the airports, the hotels bring us also important investments: we can quote as entrepreneurs the Spaniards, mainly from the Balearic Islands and more precisely from Majorca and from Ibiza, invest a lot in the corridor of Maya ( Cancun – Tulum ) which attract the European, the American and the Canadian market. So, the European investment opens some ways to a new market.
The privatization of the airport seems to make some problem, what is your opinion?
Nowadays, the department of Tourism is expecting the decision of the department of Communication and transports which has to see with its materialization because this airport is the biggest and it is the one which has the most important movement in the country. The problem consists in knowing if the airport has to maintain itself in the Federal District or if it has to be transferred somewheelse. We have already seen some airports which work inside the cities and others outside. Despite the fact it is a modern and safe airport, the decision which is being discussed will be welcomed by our Department.
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the Minister of Tourism of the Federal District Agustin Arroya wants to give us a new image of the Federal District in order to attract more tourists. In his plans, he speaks about stopping the danger on the streets, do you think this situation can improve?
yes, I am sure, with lots of resources, with new laws and with new corporation of investigators in collaboration with other countries, something we did not do so well before. I believe that we have to make progress regarding the lack of security and the violence. However, the problem does not reach tourism. Indeed, if this was the case, we would not have the seventh place in tourism. Fortunately, today there is approximately 19 to 20 millions tourists who visit Mexico have really good experiences. In one side, the tourists do not live the situation linked to the insecurity, that is to say, if a tourist goes to Chiapas he will not go in the four municipalities where there are some dangers. A tourist who arrives in Mexico will probably visit Bellas Arte, the museum of Anthropology and he will go to restaurants. But, he will not visit the suburbs of the town but only the tourist places. In the other side, you have to take into account that the city of Mexico is very big and that norms to protect the tourist has been implemented with advertisement and with information has been implemented. So there are some means of security and aid in order to make the tourist feel safe. Therefore, the tax of lodging has increased of 2%. It means it gives to the Federal district about 10 millions of dollars each year to do the promotion.
Is eco-tourism one of your priorities?
yes, it is a priority, overall its development because the number of tourists is still low. However, the most developing tourism is the one of " sun and beach" but the tourism of adventure, rural, colonial cities, rivers and archaeological places is also increasing. Nowadays, Mexico has still a supremacy in the tourism of "sun and beach", but we know it is going to be less important compared to other place where the tourism will stay the same.
what have been the most interesting projects that you are proud of?
I am very enthusiastic and optimistic, but I am not really proud because I can not credit myself with these excellent results. As Minister of Tourism I am boosted by the decision of the government, of the Chamber of Deputies, of Senators and of governors which is to create, for the first time in Mexico, a mixed organization for the promotion of tourism. This decision has been unanimously taken, at this time with all the political parties. The organization is mixed because the private and the public sectors are represented inside. And inside the public sector you find the Federal sector, the government of the states and the municipal government. The idea is to promote the sector over there. It is an organization similar to those which are already working in Europe such as the one in France " la Maison de la France ," those for which each person interested is involved in order to multiply the available funds. When a tourist who is not Mexican enters in the country he has to pay 15$, half of which goes towards Mexican International promotion
What is your message to the readers and the businessmen of Forbes magazine?
The tourism sector is the most dynamic in the economy, it offers lots of opportunities of business in different fields such as the aerial and the transports (terrestrial, railroad and aerial). We need more investments in hotels. For example the average of occupation in the Spanish hotels in the Maya area vary between 80% and 90% which permits them to have a good business. We would also like more investments in golf courses and in coast sides.
To conclude the message would be that many people should visit here in order to have a good experience because we already have a large choice of attractive places. The tourist sector is an activity which is always developing itself. If Mexico has the seventh place, it means that we have to see it and we have to invest. Another advantage for the investors is that it is an industry in which you earn and you contribute in dollar. |
© World INvestment NEws, 2000.
This is the electronic edition of the special country report on Mexico published in Forbes Global.
July 3rd 2000 Issue.
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MEXICO
