| Exceeding US$11.6 billion, private investment | | | | have ownership in the majority of economic |
| in Mexico's tourism sector has already | | | | fields and activities, including real estate, |
| surpassed federal goals for the 2001 to 2006 | | | | allowing 100 percent participation in shared |
| period by 29 percent, reports Sectur in its | | | | capital. Investors are also offered a |
| latest comprehensive study on the subject. | | | | profitability guarantee and investment |
| Domestic and foreign private investment | | | | security through Fonatur. |
| reached the original US$9 billion goal in | | | | |
| June 2005, after increasing at least 12 | | | | In addition to the ease of investing in |
| percent annually since 2002. | | | | Mexico, investors are also attracted by the |
| | | | security of investing in a proven |
| The report also shows that interest in | | | | destination: Mexico is the world's seventh |
| Mexico's famous beaches remains high, with | | | | most-visited country and ranks 12th in terms |
| the sun and beach segment outpacing all other | | | | of foreign revenue earnings from tourism; in |
| tourism products by garnering 48 percent of | | | | both categories, it is the leader in Latin |
| private investment. Three coastal states also | | | | America. |
| ranked in the top three in amount of private | | | | |
| investment received: Guerrero State (US$2.63 | | | | Fonatur's efforts have been recognized by |
| billion), Quintana Roo State (US$2.47 | | | | industry organizations such as the Live in |
| billion) and Nayarit State (US$92.5 million) | | | | Spain association, which honored the agency |
| captured almost 52 percent of the total | | | | with its development and promotion of |
| amount invested between 2001 and 2006. | | | | residential tourism award during the 2006 |
| | | | edition of the Madrid Real Estate Exhibition. |
| Approximately 89 percent of private | | | | |
| investment in Guerrero went to tried-and-true | | | | About Fonatur |
| beach resort Acapulco on the Pacific Ocean, | | | | |
| whereas 82 percent of the private investment | | | | Created in 1974, Mexico's National Trust Fund |
| Quintana Roo received was channeled to the | | | | for Tourism Development (Fonatur) is the |
| Mexican Caribbean hot spots Cancun and | | | | premier developer of integrally-planned |
| Riviera Maya. More than 60 percent of | | | | tourism destinations in Mexico and has |
| Nayarit's private investment went to the | | | | created such world-class resort areas as |
| Pacific resort town of Nuevo Vallarta. | | | | Cancun, Ixtapa, Loreto, Los Cabos and more |
| | | | recently, Huatulco. To diversify the nation's |
| Rounding out the top Mexican five states | | | | tourism industry and give it a more |
| receiving the highest amount of public | | | | competitive edge, Fonatur builds and promotes |
| investment are border states of Baja | | | | new tourist resorts that meet market demand |
| California (US$86.3 million) and Sonora | | | | and at the same time spur social change in |
| (US$78.4 million). Together, the states on | | | | different parts of the country. Fonatur often |
| the U.S./Mexico border, which also include | | | | serves a joint venture partner for private |
| Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and | | | | investors who want to benefit from |
| Tamaulipas, received 19 percent of private | | | | participation in Mexico's high-quality |
| investment in Mexico, ranking the region | | | | tourism development programs. For more |
| second overall. | | | | information on Fonatur, visit |
| | | | |
| Among the northern region's major tourism | | | | About the Mexico Tourism Board |
| attractions are Copper Canyon in Chihuahua; | | | | |
| the La Quemada archaeological sites in | | | | The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings |
| Zacatecas; the bustling city of Monterrey in | | | | together the resources of federal and state |
| Nuevo Leon and 200,000-acre Cuatro Cienegas | | | | governments, municipalities and private |
| Valley in Coahuila. International sources | | | | companies to promote Mexico's tourism |
| account for 25 percent of all private | | | | attractions and destinations internationally. |
| investment, with the United States as the top | | | | Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico's tourism |
| foreign investor in Mexico's tourism | | | | promotion agency, and its participants |
| infrastructure. | | | | include members of both the private and |
| | | | public sectors. The MTB has offices |
| Mexico has long been taking strategic steps | | | | throughout North America, Europe, Asia and |
| to stimulate tourism and attract private | | | | Latin America. |
| investors through its National Trust Fund for | | | | |
| Tourism Development, Fonatur. This government | | | | FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help |
| agency is responsible for conceiving, | | | | with a story or general travel and tourism |
| planning and building five sea-side tourism | | | | information about Mexico, please contact the |
| destinations - Cancun, Los Cabos, Ixtapa, | | | | MTB's North American Press Room directly at |
| Loreto and the Bays of Huatulco - since its | | | | 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at , or visit our |
| 1974 inception. | | | | press Web site at To access an online |
| | | | warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit |
| These resorts areas generate 54 percent of | | | | |
| foreign revenue entering the country from | | | | |
| tourism and benefit from a master plan, | | | | # # # |
| urban-resort planning mechanisms, and annual | | | | |
| construction programs and enforcement. | | | | Erick Laseca |
| | | | |
| Because fomenting international tourism is a | | | | Mexico Tourism Board |
| national priority for Mexico, the country's | | | | |
| regulatory framework legally protects foreign | | | | 312-228-0517 x14erick. |
| investors. Mexico allows foreign investors to | | | | |