MEXICO CITY, Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The Mexico Ministry of Tourism commenced Mexico's participation in World Travel Market (WTM) - considered one the leading trade fairs in the global tourism industry - today at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Center.
Until November 8, Mexico is exhibiting a pavilion dedicated to the Mayan World, highlighting the country's principal tourist destinations, particularly the segments of cultural, adventure, and nature tourism, luxury, gastronomy, and sun and beach.
From January to August, Mexico attracted over 235,000 visitors from the United Kingdom, a figure 5.6 percent higher than the same period the prior year, according to the Integrated System for Migration Operations (SIOM).
Mexico Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara led the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Mexico Pavilion, which is dedicated to the riches of the Mayan World. With over 388 square meters of exhibition space, the pavilion features participation from over 64 tourism exhibitors from throughout Mexico.
At the inauguration, Secretary Guevara was accompanied by the Governor of Quintana Roo, Roberto Borge Angulo; Mexican Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Eduardo Medina Mora; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Felix Gonzalez Canto; the Senator from the state of Nayarit, Martha Elena Garcia, a member of the Tourism Commission; the Chief Operating Officer of the Mexico Tourism Board, Rodolfo Lopez-Negrete; as well as the Secretaries of Tourism of Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur and Puebla.
The space offers visitors an exhibition of typical dress from different regions throughout the country, as well as a tasting of Mexican cuisine, considered Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Secretary Guevara also inaugurated the special pavilion dedicated to Cancun-Riviera Maya, which promotes the attractions of the region upon the occasion of the end of an era in the Mayan calendar.
In the 2012 edition of the fair, participation is expected from over 48,000 international tourism operators, as well as tourism ministers, government representatives, and international press.
Among the Mexican exhibitors participating in WTM are the states of Yucatan, Jalisco, Mexico City and Puebla; the Convention and Visitors Bureaus of Baja California Sur, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Riviera Maya, Cancun, Riviera Nayarit and Chihuahua; the hotels Solmar Hotels & Resorts, Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts, Oasis Hotels & Resorts and Grupo Presidente.
Also participating are tour operators including Alamos Travel Service, Sat Business Travel, Mexitours, Mexcellence Travel, Ketzaltour, Mexico Touring Ground Operators, Aventuras Mexico Profundo, Kamino Tours, Sprachcaffe Mexico, Viva Zapata, Native Trails Mexico, Viajes De Gala, Komex Tours, Grupo Royale, Grupo Meca, Gowaii Partners, In Travel Journey Mexico, Caracteres De Mexico, Condor Verde, Encuentro T, Olympus Tours, and Yucatan Holidays, and specialized outlets such as the magazine Mexico Desconocido.
Secretary Guevara will also be meeting with international tour operators at the event, including Johan Lundgren, CEO of TUI Travel, and Amanda Wills, Managing Director of Virgin Holidays.
Secretary Guevara will be the speaker at a meeting of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), with participating members including Andrew Rosindell, Member of Parliament; Martin Craigs, CEO of PATA; and Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (WTO).
The Secretary will also participate in the Ministers Summit of the World Tourism Organization and the World Travel Market, with attendees including Jeff Poole, Director, Government and Industry Affairs, International Air Transport Association (IATA), and David Scowsill, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council.
While in London, Secretary Guevara will also meet with Maria Mille, Secretary of State for Culture of the United Kingdom; participate in a tourism panel organized by Visit Britain; and meet with Alison Gilmour, Director of ILTM, and Ian Johnson, founder and CEO of Out Now Global.
SOURCEMexico Secretary of Tourism
