Posts Tagged ‘High’
Mexico?s International Tourism Revenues Reach Historic High
Despite Hurricane Wilma’s lingering effect on room supply in the Mexican Caribbean in early 2006, Mexico closed the year with historically high international tourism revenues, pointing to a full recovery of the industry.
According to statistics recently released by Mexico’s Tourism Secretariat (Sectur), Mexico received 21.35 million international visitors in 2006, a 2.6 percent dip in comparison with 2005, due in part to reduced room availability in the Mexican Caribbean stemming from damages sustained by several hotels during Hurricane Wilma in late 2005. Despite this, from April to December 2006, international tourism arrivals for 2006 were above figures posted the year before in all but two months.
Thanks to more aggressive marketing to the affluent traveler in particular, however, revenue generated by these tourists reached a record high of US$12.18 billion, 3.2 percent higher than 2005’s revenue of US$11.80 billion. In 2004, Mexico’s international tourism revenues had totaled US$10.84 billion.
International visitors (excluding border tourists) to Mexico were reported to have spent an average of US$710.30 per person per visit in 2006, representing a 4.7 percent increase from 2005’s US$678.40 average spend.
Historically high international tourism revenues helped enable the tourism industry’s trade balance to post an impressive US$4.07 billion surplus in 2006.
Cruise ship passenger arrivals in 2006 posted strong numbers as well, with 6.52 million cruise passengers disembarking in Mexican ports, down only 2.8 percent from 2005 despite damage sustained from Hurricane Wilma to such leading cruise ports as Cozumel.
These passengers spent 458.3 million dollars in Mexico, compared with 452.6 million the previous year.
Some 1.95 million people were employed in the tourism sector by the end of 2006, a significant increase from the 1.83 million people employed by the end of 2005.
“The figures posted in 2006 demonstrate that within a year of a devastating hurricane, Mexico’s tourism industry was already back to normal,” said Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo. “This attests to a level of government commitment and degree of coordination with private sector partners rarely seen in areas elsewhere in the world affected by similar tragedies. We expect 2007 to be yet another successful year for our tourism industry, with increased growth across all segments, particularly among upscale travelers,” he added.
About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress.
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Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board
312-228-0517 ext14
erick.laseca@bm.com
http://www.visitmexicopress.com
Posted in Discover 
Tags: High, Historic, INTERNATIONAL, Mexicos, Reach, Revenues, Tourism 
No Comments »Living the High Life: Paris, France Events
No matter where you go in Paris, France, you will find something to do every weekend as well as every day. Paris, France events are rife throughout the city, especially on the weekends. Whether you are interested in culture, shopping, history, politics or sports, you can find just about anything that you want when looking around Paris for Paris, France events. Some of the Paris, France events that you will not want to miss are the Art Festival at Montparnasse, Freedom Celebration at the Place de la Bastille, Shopping Sales at the Champs-Elysees and the Taste of Paris that takes place each year in Le Marais.
Art Festival at Montparnasse
Montparnasse has traditionally been the art center of Paris and holds several art festivals each year, most of which celebrate the art of local artisans. If you want to visit Paris in May, you will be able to see the Spring Art Festival at Monteparnasse. While you can see art in this district of Paris throughout the year, this is the best time to really see works of the newest artists. You never know, you may end up discovering a fresh new talent when you visit the Art Festival at Montparnasse.
Freedom Celebration at the Place de la Bastille
If you want to learn about history as well as celebrate French history, you should go to the Freedom Celebration at the Place de la Bastille. This takes place throughout the year as this area is open to the public and consists of many historic sits. If you visit in March, you can enjoy some celebrations and parades that celebrate French independence.
Champs-Elysees
When you want to do some true Parisian shopping, you should visit Champs-Elysees. This is an area of Paris that is known for the shopping and the designer houses of Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton, all of which are located in this fashionable district. Shopping at Champs-Elysees as well the Avenue Montaigne is something that you will especially enjoy if you visit in the Fall, when many of the fashion houses are hosting a sale. There are sidewalk sales each autumn on these fashionable streets that boast of the top names in Paris fashion. Travel to Paris in the autumn to take advantage of the best fashion events.
Le Marais Taste of Paris
If you want to get a chance to taste French food, as well as the other cuisines that make Paris unique, you can do so by visiting Le Marais for the Taste of Paris every June. This summer event features some of the best foods cooked by chefs of the best Parisian restaurants. It would be foolish to come to Paris and not try the food and this is the best way that you can get a chance to sample most of it. By visiting Le Maraise Taste of Paris, you can get a chance to try not only French food, but all of the foods from other nationalities that make up the landscape of Paris. This is one of the Paris, France [...]