The sun is shining on Cancun this week as the destination plays host to the 39th annual Tianguis Turistico. This is the first time that the annual conference has been held in the beach destination on the Caribbean Sea. This year’s event runs from May 6 through the 9 and has drawn 1,500 buyers from 60 countries. The event kicked off last night, May 6, following the opening ceremony at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort.
President Enrique Peña Nieto presided over the inaugural event’s festivities, along with other government officials and dignitaries at the property’s recently completed multi-million dollar convention center, Moon Palace Arena.
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As keynote speaker, President Peña Nieto discussed Mexico’s growing tourism industry with attending VIPs, government officials, media and industry leaders. “Mexico has everything to be a tourism power worldwide,” said Peña Nieto. “Tourism is one of the six driving forces of the country and we plan to invest $7.7 trillion pesos into Mexico.”
According to Peña Nieto, 23.7 million tourists visited Mexico in 2013, and already in 2014 the country is exceeding numbers versus the same time last year. “From January 1 to February 28, Mexico saw 4.5 million tourists, which exceeds numbers from the same time last year,” he says.
Mexico is also looking to position itself as a leader in cultural tourism, health tourism and sustainability. Mexico will use $180 billion pesos, from the $7.7 trillion investment, to improve beaches, historical centers and its tourism programs. There will be new convention centers, renovation of ports, new roads and reconditioning of the main airports.
“Tourism is a strategic sector for the growth of Mexico,” said Peña Pieto. “Let’s turn this into an opportunity to show the quality and warmth of the destination.”