Press Release – For immediate release

Mexican Tourism and Environment authorities sign new agreement to promote sustainable tourism

·         Mexican Tourism and Environment authorities are announcing the issuance of Ecological Tourism Quality Certificates to 28 hotels, 16 federal administrations, one port and one airport authority

·         SECTUR (tourism) and PROFEPA (environment) signed a new Collaboration Agreement to promote sustainable development, orderly growth and environmental conservation measures in Mexican tourism destinations

·         Equilibrium means growth in infrastructure and the preservation of the natural heritage, in order to foster wealth and regional development- Elizondo Torres

Mexico City, Monday November 24th 2008.

Heads of the Secretariat of Tourism (SECTUR) and of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (PROFEPA) of Mexico signed last Monday a collaboration agreement to promote sustainable tourism.

In his address, the head of SECTUR Rodolfo Elizondo explained that the common goal is to reach a workable balance between growth in infrastructures and the preservation of the natural heritage, in order to foster wealth and regional development.

He added that through concrete measures such as saving water, electricity, paper and cleaning products, and through a more efficient use of fuel and energy, the travel industry is contributing in important ways to create sustainable and eco-friendly tourism destinations. Other positive measures already in place are: competitive rates on insurance, tax benefits and appropriate sanctions in cases of infringements.

“This agreement allows us to renew our commitments and to program the concrete actions we are to undertake to keep on creating new tourism infrastructures while preserving our natural environment. We are committed to reach this fair balance between an orderly growth of the tourism developments and the preservation of the environment”, Mr. Elizondo noted.

The Secretary of Tourism also underlined the fact that the environmental public policies implemented by the Mexican government are not extremist laws with total and absolute bans. Quite the contrary, they provide the opportunities, the means and legal tools allowing a sustainable use of the natural resources ensuring benefits for the local communities.

The head of PROFEPA noted for his part that the while it is very important for the businesses to develop activities with a commitment in favour of the environment, it is equally important for them not to do so in isolation. It is thus crucial, said Mr. Patricio Patrón Laviada, that the federal agencies coordinate their efforts in order to reach measurable and irreversible positive results.

“This way, we wish to see the entrepreneurs and local authorities supported by federal and state agencies of the environment and tourism sector, in order for them to commit to control and reduce local impacts on the environment. Out of this synergy, joining the efforts of the society and the three levels of government, we will obtain exponential results”, Mr. Patrón concluded.

As part of the Agreement, the two high officials of SECTUR and PROFEPA issued 28 Ecological Tourism Quality Certificates to a series of hotels located in Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Colima, Distrito Federal (Mexico City), the State of México, Guerrero, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa and Sonora. Other recipients were the Integral Port Authority of Ensenada (Baja California) and the Huatulco Airport (Oaxaca). All of these businesses and administrations successfully completed the environmental certification process.

During the process, the CEO of Grupo Palace Resorts, Mr. José Chapur Zahol, handed to the head of PROFEPA a document representing the commitment of his entire chain of hotels to the Environmental Quality Program, which will definitely translate into positive impacts on the environment.

Protected areas expanded

Conservation efforts are taking an increasing importance all over the country, and Mexico already has over 1.1 million hectares of its territory placed under conservation programs. Last week, the Pedregal de San Angel Ecological Reserve, a 237ha natural area right in Mexico City was declared a National Monument.  

Furthermore, PROFEPA is applying a strict verification process to all new large-scale developments in the tourist-intensive areas of Los Cabos, Cancún, Riviera Maya, Acapulco, Ixtapa and Monterrey.

Such measures are sure necessary to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the beautiful and diverse natural sites of Mexico.

For more information about tourism in Mexico, and to try the new online reservation engine, please visit www.visitmexico.com

  Sharing a relaxing moment in Los Cabos       A protected wetland area near the resort town of Escuinapa (Sinaloa)

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