Newlink is the Mexico Tourism Board’s New Agency for Public
Relations in the United States
TRAVEL ALERT
TO MEXICO
NO LONGER IN EFFECT
Mexico
City, May 15, 2009 – The U.S. Department of State’s travel alert to Mexico
due to the H1N1 influenza outbreak is no longer in effect. This
announcement was made right after the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) lifted its travel warning against all nonessential travel to Mexico.
The CDC announced that the
“warning” was downgraded to a “Travel Health
Precaution,” which is directed at those who are at high risk of
complications due to any kind of influenza.
Daniel Jernigan, Deputy Director of
the CDC’s influenza division, says that there is no evidence that the
Influenza A (H1N1) virus is becoming stronger.
“Mexico’s government and tourism
authorities are very satisfied with the decision taken by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and consequently, the U.S. Department of
State, to lift the H1N1 influenza alert against nonessential travel to Mexico.
Our main priority continues to be the safety of our citizens and visitors, and
with evidence that the flu appears to be less threatening than originally
thought, Mexico is ready to welcome back all of its visitors and offer them the
hospitality and services that have always distinguished us,” said Rodolfo
Elizondo, Mexico’s Minister of Tourism.
It is important to highlight that,
according to the CDC, the increasing number of cases that are being seen in the
United States and other
countries are not directly associated with travel to Mexico.
Countries such as Argentina, Peru,
Ecuador, Uruguay, Italy,
Austria, Belgium, United
Kingdom and Switzerland
have also lifted their advisories against travel to Mexico and have resumed all
commercial flights to the country.
Carnival Cruise Lines has also
announced that they will resume all scheduled port calls to Mexico once all previously modified
trips are completed.
“There is no doubt that the
H1N1 has hit our country very hard; specially the tourism sector, an essential
part of our economy. Mexico
is known for its capacity of coming out of tough situations even stronger, and
this will not be the exception. The travel industry -at all levels- is ready to
offer its visitors what they come here for: diversity, culture, relaxation,
luxury, adventure, world class infrastructure and most importantly, the best
service in the world,” added Oscar Fitch, CEO of the Mexico Tourism
Board.
For more information on the precautions
advised by the CDC and U.S. Department of State, visit their website at www.cdc.gov/travel,
and http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html
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
