Mexico Bets Cultural Tourism Will Pay off Big

October 3, 2007
Monterrey, Mexico

Mexico plans to invest $90 million in cultural tourism, say sources in the Ministry of Tourism, to attract more high-end tourists. Cultural tourism, which includes visits to archaeological sites, museums, historical cities, cultural events and the like, currently brings in $5 million annually in Mexico.

The funds will be used in more than 180 projects to develop and improve tourist infrastructure throughout Mexico. Projects will include restoration of historic city centers, installation of lighting for archaeological sites, museums, and relaying of telephone cables and other unsightly wires underground to improve the appearance of historic sites.

The Ministry of Tourism is signing agreements with the Council on Culture and the Arts ( Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes, or CONALCULTA), the National Institute of Anthropology and History ( Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, or INAH), and the Association of World Heritage Cities ( Asociación de Ciudades Patrimonio de la Humanidad) to promote cultural tourism to these sites.

Cultural tourism is widely thought to generate more revenue than mass tourism to beaches and resorts like Cancún. It is also considered less destructive to the environment.

"Our country counts on a vast cultural heritage that includes 26 sites classified as World Heritage, and that recently was increased to 27 by the designation of the National Autonomous University of Mexico," said Minister of Tourism Rodolfo Elizondo in a press conference.
Mexico receives more "cultural tourists" than any other country in Latin America, and is in seventh place worldwide, according to Elizondo.

Best regards,

Suzan Haskins
Latin America Editorial Director
International Living