Cultural Tourism Propels Mexico Ahead AllAfrica.com
go to original April 9, 2012

According to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), Mexico made it to 57th place in the world's ranking, the fifth among Latin American countries, and the ninth in the Americas.

The country is the leading destination for foreign tourists within Latin America and number two destination in the Americas. It ranks 10th worldwide in terms of international tourist arrivals.

In 2008, slightly over 22 million tourists visited the country, attracted mostly by Mexico's history, culture and its alluring beaches. According to data from ProMexico, a Federal Government agency established in 2007 to strengthen the participation of Mexico in the international economy, the sector brought in dollars 13.3 billion in 2008 and contributed over 13 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The country boasts a temperate climate that attracts visitors from the US, Canada and Europe mostly during December when the northern hemisphere freezes in winter. A number of visitors also come from Asia, underpinning a global interest to visit Mexico, a country also hugely popular with Hollywood film producers for shooting scenes there. Its climate aside, Mexico also has unique culture, mostly a fusion of Spanish and Meso- American cultures that has produced national identity for its cuisine and sports.

A growing middle class due to Mexico's overall affluence as a result of the country's burgeoning industrial production has led to increased tourism whereby some Mexicans travel overseas while others visit other parts of the country, which is roughly the size of East Africa. Mexico City, the capital is a popular ancient Meso- American city. It is the gateway for visits to the ancient city of Teotihuacan, famous for the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.

Other human-made tourist zones, such as the La Zona Rosa or Shopping District, El Palenque and El Zucalo (one of the largest public plazas in the world) are found there. The city is also home to the Plaza de Toros Mexico - the world's largest bullring - and to the Mexican National Palace, built on the site of Montezuma's palace, and the huge Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest in the Western Hemisphere, built over the even greater Temple of Teocalli.

Mexico City features also one of the finest museums in the world: the National Museum of Anthropology. Guadalajara, Jalisco, the second-largest city by population in the Republic, is home of some of Mexico's best known traditions, such as tequila, mariachi music and charros, or Mexican cowboys. Its similitude with western European countries mixed with modern architecture and infrastructure makes Guadalajara very attractive to tourists. Along with Mexico City and beach destinations such as Cancun, Acapulco and others, Guadalajara is one of the most visited cities in Mexico.

Cultural tourism is the main attraction, the city being home to a large number of museums, art galleries and theatres. The city is also the host of several internationally-renowned events, such as the Guadalajara International Book Fair, which is the most important exposition of its kind in the Spanish-speaking world, and the second largest book fair in the world. The city is known as a pioneer in the underground arts scene as well as in the electronic music world, another main touristic attraction.

Its diversity of European architectural styles is a focus of attraction for tourists, in particular the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Degollado Theatre and the Hospicio Cabaoas, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the oldest hospital complexes in Spanish America. Other tourism activities include shopping at its world class shopping malls, or plazas, taking a tour to the surrounding areas such as the Huentitan Canyon, Tonal, Tlaquepaque, Chapala or visiting nearby towns, which are well-connected by modern highways, such as Tequila (the home of the heavenly liquid), Puerto Vallarta or Mazamitla, depending upon whether the visitor wishes to visit a cultural town, a world-destination beach or stay in a cabin in the middle of the forest. Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, was founded in the late 16th century.

The downtown district is the oldest section in the city, surrounded by newer neighbourhoods. The Museo de Historia Mexicana (Museum of Mexican History), MARCO (Monterrey Museum of Contemporary Art), Metropolitan Museum of Monterrey and the Museum of the Palacio de Gobierno, or State House, are some of the better known museums in the city, as well as nationally. The Santa Lucia Riverwalk is a river-walk similar to the one in San Antonio, Texas, having a length of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) and connecting the Fundidora Park with the Macroplaza, one of the largest plazas in the world. Morelia, Michoac is the Capital of the State of Michoac.

Its historic downtown area (Centro Historico) encompasses approximately 150 city blocks in the city centre, roughly corresponding to the actual area of the city at the end of the 18th century. The Centro Historico contains over 1,000 historical sites, including (but not limited to) the cathedral.

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