In this Ask Journey Mexico, Director of Operations, Matteo Luthi, addresses a question from The Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree Forum asking about which would be a better destination for travel with a 11 year old – Guanajuato in the Colonial Heartland or Oaxaca.
*Note – Matteo forgot to address this in the video, but Journey Mexico staff members travel to Oaxaca frequently and do not find the region to be smoggy at all*
Journey Mexico team members brought a few issues of The Tianguis News back from the recent Tianguis trade show in Acapulco, and the Saturday, March 26th issue has an interesting article about the current state of Mexico’s tourism sector.
Travel enthusiasts will be happy to hear that according to the Word Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and in spite of a slumping global economy, the travel industry (world-wide) grew by 3.3% in 2010 and is projected to grow by another 4.5% in 2011, injecting $1.8 billion into the global GDP and providing 3 million more jobs in the industry around the world.
Lovers of Mexico will be happy to hear that the number of foreign tourist arrivals to Mexico in 2010 was 22.4 million – a 7% increase from 2009 and 2% more than in 2008, which was one of Mexico’s best years in history. 2010 grossed $11.87 million, which was a 6% increase over 2009 but still remained 7.6% below 2008’s $13 million.
Competitively, Mexico advanced from number 51 to number 43 in the World Economic Forum‘s ranking of 139 countries in 2010. Regionally, Mexico surpassed both Costa Rica and Brazil, ranking as the number 2 country in all of Latin America and the Caribbean.
In the nature category, Mexico ranked number 10 out of all the countries in the world, scoring a 4.9 out of the maximum 7 points. Culturally, Mexico scored a 5.3 out of 7, boasting 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a World Heritage Cuisine, and one of the 7 New Wonders of the World (the Kukulkan pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula).
With President Felipe Calderón’s declaration of 2011 as the Year of Mexican Tourism, the President’s commitment to international tourism, and ATTA choosing Mexico as the destination for the 2011 Adventure Travel World Summit, Mexico is poised to have a record year in 2011!
We’re excited to bring you a newly formatted webisode of Table Talk! In this edition, Carmen Porras of El Arrayán restaurant shows us how to make capirotada (Mexican bread pudding), which is a sweet dish traditionally served during the season of Lent.
Give the recipe a try and let us know how it turns out in the comments below!
Today’s Trip Advisor Members’ Update included their Travelers’ Choice results for “Top 25 Beaches in the World” for 2011. With more than 5700 miles of coastline in three distinct coastal regions, it’s no surprise that Mexico took four of the top 25 spots – more than any other state/country on the list save for Florida, which also has four.
Mexico’s winners are:
Tulum on the Riviera Maya – Tulum is one of the most visited ruins of the Mayan world, welcoming over $2 million visitors each year. The stunning contrast between the ancient stones of the Mayan ruins and the crystal waters of the Caribbean coast make the site a photographers favorite. The rich history of the site as one of the only cities never conquered by the Spaniards make it even more significant and although you have to brave the crowds, it is well worth the visit.
Isla Mujeres just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula – This tiny island off the coast of Cancun was an ancient Mayan religious site dedicated to the goddess, Ixchel (the guardian of fertility and childbirth). Today, the island is a small fishing community and a string of small hotels with one town center, El Pueblo. The tourist infrastructure of the island has grown rapidly in recent years but it remains a quiet retreat from the hustle and bustle of its neighbor, Cancun.
Playa del Carmen also located on the Mayan Riviera – Once a fishing village and pristine deserted beach, Playa del Carmen has turned into one of the hottest holiday destinations in Mexico. Smaller than Cancun, “Playa” offers the nightlife and dining of a city with the charm of a seaside beach town – all with the same crystalline waters of Cancun.
Cancun located in Cancun, obvio – The sun shines over 240 days a year along the strip of fine, white sand called the hotel zone. With an average daily temperature of 80 degrees, this resort town is one of the most temperate and pleasant Caribbean destinations. The city boasts lively nightlife, high-end shops, and world class restaurants in addition to its pristine beaches and proximity to Mayan ruins.
While we agree that Tulum, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun deserve their spots on the Top 25 Beaches of the World list, we would also argue that several other beaches in Mexico also deserve international recognition. Puerto Vallarta on Mexico’s Pacific Coast is one of the most unique beach towns of the world as the city has maintained its deep cultural heritage as it’s grown into its role as the most sough
