Jaltemba Sol
Mexico’s attraction to U.S. retirees.
Despite the economic slowdown, Mexico continues to attract a
growing number of U.S. tourists.
Cancún, Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel are among some of the
nation's top destinations for Houstonians.
Martin Gonzalez, recently named director of the Mexico
Tourism Board in Houston, spoke with Chronicle reporter Jenalia Moreno about
Mexico's tourism industry, Mexico versus Europe as a destination and the
nation's attraction to U.S. retirees.
Q: What are some of Mexico's new tourism destinations?
A: Recently, this commission (UNESCO) met that declares
world heritage sites and it accepted the nomination of more Mexican
destinations.
One is San Miguel de Allende, and the other is the Monarch
Butterfly Biosphere, where the monarch butterfly arrives year after year. It's a
zone that's in two states — Michoacan and Jalisco.
They are promoting new destinations that have the objective
of competing internationally.
Q: Are more U.S. travelers going to Mexico instead of Europe
because of the strength of the euro and the weakness of the dollar?
A: In the period of January to May of this year, it has gone
well for us.
The country has received about $5.1 billion — 10 percent
more than the same period as last year. We have received almost 6 million
tourists. This signifies a 5 percent increase in the same period last year.
Today, the U.S. tourist spends an average of $811. I think
the U.S. consumer perceives that their dollar is worth more in Mexican
destinations than in European destinations.
Q: How important is tourism for Mexico's economy?
A: Tourism represents the fourth source of income for the
country after petroleum, manufacturing and remittances. At the end of last year,
the country received about $13 billion from tourists.
Tourism activity is responsible for 2.5 millions of jobs.
Q: How has the increase in crime along the border affected
tourism there?
A: During the year, the numbers are constant. We have 63
million people who take a day trip to the borders. We had about 8 million people
who stayed more than a day and they at least slept on the border last year.
The economic activity continues on the border despite the
bad perception that could exist due to the phenomenon that has been presented,
but that is isolated.
Q: Are American retirees still buying houses on the border
despite the housing slowdown here?
A: Mexico has about 1 million U.S. citizens living or
possessing a second home in the country. We hope the numbers will double or
triple. With the costs of retiring in the U.S. economy, it's cheaper to live in
Mexico.
If you review Puerto Peñasco or Rocky Point, as they call
it, you will see a great number of residents from the state of Arizona who have
their second home there.
If you go to San Miguel de Allende, paradoxically you have
to speak English to live there because of the quantity of people from the U.S.
who live there. It's not just the initial cost of housing, but the daily cost of
living is cheaper