Tourism up
So much for the alarmist stories and Canadian calls for a boycott.
According to research by official tourism body Sectur, 3.6 million foreign holidaymakers visited the central American country over the first three months of 2007, a rise of 8.3 per cent compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, international tourist revenue accounted for some $3.75 billion (£1.7 billion) over the quarter, up by 14.6 per cent from 2006’s figures.
However, the country’s government had announced fears that international tourism could fall after legislation was passed earlier this year requiring that those returning to the United States after leaving Mexico would need a passport.
Secretary of tourism Rodolfo Elizondo said: “These numbers demonstrate that requiring a passport has not deterred Americans from travelling to Mexico.”
International cruise visitors over the first quarter of this year were also up by 78,000 from 2006.
mexfiles.net 