February 11, 2008
Mexican
President Speaks on the Promotion of Investment and Infrastructure in Tourism
Presidency
of the Republic
(Speech)
“I am delighted to be here with this select
group of businessmen from the tourist sector and to be able to analyze the many opportunities Mexico provides as regards to
investing in tourism and infrastructure.
“By 2012, we want Mexico to have achieved at
least US$20 billion in private investment in tourism.
“That is why we are making every effort to create
a suitable business environment for investment in our country.
“In five years I am sure we will be able to
transform Mexico through new ports, capable of receiving more cruise ships, and therefore more visitors; more modern highways,
new roads that will reduce transit times between cities and tourist centers; and more and more modern airports that will enable
us to receive visitors from the five continents.
“The goal we have set is to turn Mexico into
a Latin American leader as regards to infrastructure. According to some estimates, we were in seventh or fifth place a couple
of years ago.
“This year, the National Tourism Fund, FONATUR,
alone will receive over a billion dollars more, over twice the amount it was assigned last year.
“At the same time, we will implement a strategy
that will guarantee more attractive traveling conditions to tourists from the regional market of the United States and Canada,
and of course from Europe, where I see an enormous potential for growth in the number of visitors to Mexico.
“Rest assured that government is making every
effort to give the tourist industry the boost it deserves, and to provide all the necessary guarantees for the investment
decisions you are making or decide to make later so that your business will prove successful within the market conditions.
“For Mexico, tourism is a powerful engine for
generating the income the country needs, attracting new opportunities for investment and employment while its development
is a response to the opportunities available to Mexico, as well as providing another alternative for coping with the short-term
conditions of the international economic sphere.”
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Press Release: Presidency of the Republic, February
7, 2008, Mexico City
Translation Presidency of the Republic
