Mexico`s Tourism Sector `Sports` an Active Edge

Released on = July 28, 2006, 7:34 pm

Press Release Author = Erick Laseca

Industry = Management

Press Release Summary = Reflecting worldwide travel trends, Mexico's sports tourism
segment increases in importance

Press Release Body = The numbers and revenue show that sports enthusiasts are
increasingly traveling to Mexico to get their hearts pumping and muscles moving.
Both amateur and professional athletes are contributing to the ever-continuing
expansion of Mexico's sports tourism segment.

Many sports benefit from Mexico's natural beauty and unique backdrops, a fact not
gone unnoticed by professional sporting event planners. Mexico has recently hosted
many high-profile international sporting events, including Rip Curl's Pro Search
surfing event, part of the Association of Surfing Professionals' Men's World
Championship Tour last June, and the PGA's 2006 Champions Tour's Puerto Vallarta
Blue Agave Golf Classic last March. Upcoming events include the yearly Mexico City
International Marathon in August.

Amateur athletes and sports lovers are also helping to spur Mexico's sports sector
growth. 2005 enjoyed robust numbers, with sports activities pumping approximately
US$1.27 billion into the national economy. Several high-grossing sports activities
which contributed to the impressive overall figure.

In 2005, 600 thousand golfers traveled to Mexico, generating $400 million.
Triathlons attracted 36 thousand travelers to Mexico, who in turn generated US$6
million in 2005.
In 2005, diving and relating activities produced US$200 million in revenue.
Sports fishing reeled in $500 million in 2005.

Bright future forecast for sports tourism
The increased popularity of Mexico's sports tourism sector echoes travel
developments on a global scale. The World Tourism Organization predicts that sports
tourism will be the second most important travel segment by 2020.

Sports tourism's bright future recently prompted Mexico Tourism Secretary Rodolfo
Elizondo to underscore the importance of developing this segment during a national
sports tourism conference.

"Sports tourism plays an important role in the evolution of Mexico's tourism
industry. As we continuously improve infrastructure and sports tourism offerings on
both a local and regional level, Mexico's position as a sports tourism destination
will be solidified, more jobs will be generated and we will attract investors," he
said.

Elizondo went on to mention that Mexico's active support of the sports tourism
sector is part of Sectur's strategy to diversify the country's tourism offerings
beyond its already-successful products like sun and beaches, nature tourism, and
cultural tourism, among others.

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, Asia and
Latin America.

###

Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board Chicago
225 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60601
312-228-0517 x14
312-228-0515 fax
erick_laseca@mia.bm.com
http://www.visitmexico.com

Web Site = http://www.visitmexico.com

Contact Details = Erick Laseca
Mexico Tourism Board Chicago
225 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60601
312-228-0517 x14
312-228-0515 fax
erick_laseca@mia.bm.com
http://www.visitmexico.com

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