Mexico Could Push Tourism Even Farther in 2005

Mexico is penciled in as a highly safe and reliable country for tourists, a reason why the flow of incoming travelers –including American citizens- must remain on the rise all through 2005.

Oralia Rice Sosa, undersecretary of Tourism Planning, said a recent poll taken among visitors shows the country is seen as a safe destination with hospitable people, with the sole exception of Mexico City, a deeply troubled area right now.

Mrs. Sosa called on would-be trekkers to downplay travel advisories and other warnings issued by U.S. authorities that urge its citizens to take extra precautions when crossing the Mexican border. In the same breath, the Tourism Department is making plans to beef up ad campaigns all around.

In Mrs. Sosa´s opinion, similar efforts are being mapped out to target the so-called Premium tourism segment –conventions, scuba diving, sports, cruises and spring travel.

As far as the promotion of domestic destinations is concerned, her division will this time around zero in on Europe, the United States and China.

The latter is eyed as a potential market, especially after the signing of a recent trade agreement that´s supposed to lay the foundations of stronger commercial ties between the two sides. In anticipation of that, several Mexican airlines are weighing their chances of making nonstop flights to the giant Asian nation anytime soon.