Private Investment in Mexico's Tourism Sector Booming

Exceeding US$11.6 billion, private investment in Mexico'spriority for Mexico, the country's regulatory framework
tourism sector has already surpassed federal goalslegally protects foreign investors. Mexico allows foreign
for the 2001 to 2006 period by 29 percent, reportsinvestors to have ownership in the majority of
Sectur in its latest comprehensive study on theeconomic fields and activities, including real estate,
subject. Domestic and foreign private investmentallowing 100 percent participation in shared capital.
reached the original US$9 billion goal in June 2005, afterInvestors are also offered a profitability guarantee and
increasing at least 12 percent annually since 2002.investment security through Fonatur.
The report also shows that interest in Mexico'sIn addition to the ease of investing in Mexico, investors
famous beaches remains high, with the sun and beachare also attracted by the security of investing in a
segment outpacing all other tourism products byproven destination: Mexico is the world's seventh
garnering 48 percent of private investment. Threemost-visited country and ranks 12th in terms of foreign
coastal states also ranked in the top three in amountrevenue earnings from tourism; in both categories, it is
of private investment received: Guerrero Statethe leader in Latin America.
(US$2.63 billion), Quintana Roo State (US$2.47 billion)Fonatur's efforts have been recognized by industry
and Nayarit State (US$92.5 million) captured almost 52organizations such as the Live in Spain association,
percent of the total amount invested between 2001which honored the agency with its development and
and 2006.promotion of residential tourism award during the 2006
Approximately 89 percent of private investment inedition of the Madrid Real Estate Exhibition.
Guerrero went to tried-and-true beach resortAbout Fonatur
Acapulco on the Pacific Ocean, whereas 82 percentCreated in 1974, Mexico's National Trust Fund for
of the private investment Quintana Roo received wasTourism Development (Fonatur) is the premier
channeled to the Mexican Caribbean hot spots Cancundeveloper of integrally-planned tourism destinations in
and Riviera Maya. More than 60 percent of Nayarit'sMexico and has created such world-class resort areas
private investment went to the Pacific resort town ofas Cancun, Ixtapa, Loreto, Los Cabos and more
Nuevo Vallarta.recently, Huatulco. To diversify the nation's tourism
Rounding out the top Mexican five states receiving theindustry and give it a more competitive edge, Fonatur
highest amount of public investment are border statesbuilds and promotes new tourist resorts that meet
of Baja California (US$86.3 million) and Sonoramarket demand and at the same time spur social
(US$78.4 million). Together, the states on the U.S.change in different parts of the country. Fonatur often
Mexico border, which also include Chihuahua, Coahuila,serves a joint venture partner for private investors
Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, received 19 percent ofwho want to benefit from participation in Mexico's
private investment in Mexico, ranking the region secondhigh-quality tourism development programs. For more
overall.information on Fonatur, visit
Among the northern region's major tourism attractionsAbout the Mexico Tourism Board
are Copper Canyon in Chihuahua; the La QuemadaThe Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the
archaeological sites in Zacatecas; the bustling city ofresources of federal and state governments,
Monterrey in Nuevo Leon and 200,000-acre Cuatromunicipalities and private companies to promote
Cienegas Valley in Coahuila. International sourcesMexico's tourism attractions and destinations
account for 25 percent of all private investment, withinternationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico's
the United States as the top foreign investor intourism promotion agency, and its participants include
Mexico's tourism infrastructure.members of both the private and public sectors. The
Mexico has long been taking strategic steps toMTB has offices throughout North America, Europe,
stimulate tourism and attract private investors throughAsia and Latin America.
its National Trust Fund for Tourism Development,FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a
Fonatur. This government agency is responsible forstory or general travel and tourism information about
conceiving, planning and building five sea-side tourismMexico, please contact the MTB's North American
destinations - Cancun, Los Cabos, Ixtapa, Loreto andPress Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at ,
the Bays of Huatulco - since its 1974 inception.or visit our press Web site at To access an online
These resorts areas generate 54 percent of foreignwarehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit
revenue entering the country from tourism and benefit# # #
from a master plan, urban-resort planning mechanisms,Erick Laseca
and annual construction programs and enforcement.Mexico Tourism Board
Because fomenting international tourism is a national312-228-0517 x14erick.