Mexico's Riviera Maya is powering into 2007 with figures that show strong tourism growth and a new director of tourism. Earlier this month, Javier Aranda Pedrero became Director of Tourism for the Riviera Maya Tourism Promotion Board. Pedrero joined FPTRM following his work as under secretary of tourism promotion for the tourism secretariat in Quintana Roo. Pedrero has extensive experience in the tourism industry in both private and public sectors for over 20 years. Meanwhile, the Riviera Maya Tourism Promotion Board has released 2006 tourism statistics showing a 20.7 percent increase in tourist arrivals for 2006. This percentage is slightly skewed, since the Riviera Maya had a setback in 2005, due to hurricanes Emily and Wilma. Riviera Maya's hotel room inventory reached 30,705 rooms in 2006, compared to 26,980 available rooms in 2005. The hurricanes in 2005 are at least partially responsible for this increase, since many resorts shut down by the hurricanes utilized the down time to fast track renovation and expansion plans. The forecast for 2007 shows an increase in the number of hotel rooms to 34,113. Visit [www.rivieramaya.com].
