Newlink is the Mexico Tourism Board’s New Agency for Public
Relations in the United States
MEXICO TOURISM AUTHORITIES ARE RESPONDING TO THE
CURRENT H1N1 INFLUENZA HEALTH EMERGENCY
Mexico City, Mexico- May 5, 2009- The Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) and
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) are
strategically working together in light of the recent health scare that has
directly affected tourism, the country’s third most important source of
revenue. The Minister of Tourism , Rodolfo Elizondo and CEO of The Mexico
Tourism Board, Oscar Fitch, are working cohesively with Mexico's National Trust
Fund for Tourism Development (FONATUR) to form an integrated evaluation
committee with Mexico’s tourist destinations to monitor the impact that
the H1N1 Influenza is having on the sector.
Elizondo explained that as of last
week, a series of monitoring and mediating actions have been taken to track the
impact, but as of now these numbers are not complete. The recent monitoring
from all the destinations have shown very preliminary information
in regards to hotel vacancies, flight, cruise and meeting cancellations.
The Ministry of Tourism is hopeful that once the situation is under control, it
will be possible to face the challenges that will have arisen from this
situation and it is at that time that a plan of action in favor of the tourism
industry will be established that will be accurately based on more precise information.
In regards to the spread of the
illness on a national level, the Ministry of Health reports that Mexico is
seeing a trend in the reduction of cases and in their May 3rd update, The World
Health Organization (WHO) clarifies that the new confirmed cases in Mexico are
actually the results of previously submitted lab samples, a fact that is
important to emphasize and clarify-these are not new cases.
It is also important to stress that
the World Health Organization (WHO) has maintained their stance of not
restricting international travel or the closing of borders. At the same time,
they do recommend that people who do experience flu-like symptoms immediately
seek medical advice upon arrival from their international destinations.
In relation to the direct impact
this will have on the tourism sector, a great number of national and
international institutions planning to hold their annual conventions in Mexico
have followed the advice of the federal government and of the international
organizations of health. As a result, The World Congress of Pediatrics,
expected to bring in approximately 4,000 participants and to take place in Cancun during the month of May, has been rescheduled for
November.
Al though
this health emergency has had a negative impact on the tourism sector,
conferences such as the Mexico Show Case-Travel Expo demonstrate the
resilience and dynamic of this sector. One-hundred and twenty US and Canadian
representatives from the organization Meeting Planners attended the
conference, which took place in Cancun and
Riviera Maya from April 30th through May 4th. As a symbol
of unity, the meeting counted on the presence of Joanne H. Joham, Regional
Director for North America from the
International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA).
We are also extremely proud to say
that the outpour of support for the tourism sector of our country from many of
our commercial partners has been overwhelming. Such is the case of
Deborah Sexton, President of the Professional Convention Management Association
(PCMA) and Leigh Harry, President of theInternational Congress &
Convention Association (ICCA), who on behalf of their respective organizations,
have come forward and offer to work alongside Mexico in overcoming this
challenge and designing a plan to confront this crisis.
Elizondo promises that
as soon as a more concrete evaluation of the impact that H1N1 Influenza has had
on the tourist destinations, the tourism sectors will be prepared to
immediately implement necessary actions. The Minister added that in the
immediate short-term- the three entities will continue to monitor and gather information from the principal destinations while
always placing the safety and security of tourists as their top priority.
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, Japan and Latin America. For more information on destinations and online trip bookings
please go to www.visitmexico.com
or www.mexico-update.com.
FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional
ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the
MTB’s U.S. 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
