| | |  Travel & Outdoors | September 2009 
Downgraded Tourism to be Part of a New Ministry
 Darío Celis Estrada - Tiempo de Negocios
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September 23, 2009
There is no doubt that the disappearance of the Mexican Tourism Secretariat comes at the worst moment, when all indicators of the sector are down due to the combined global financial crisis, insecurity, and influenza outbreak.
In the first six months of this year foreign exchange plunged 17% from the same period of 2008. Tourist expenditures came to US$6.048 billion in the first half of 2009.
Furthermore, foreign visitor arrivals fell 6%, to close with 10.7 million tourists. Passengers arriving by air dropped 14.4%, made worse as their average spending also fell 2.8%.
Felipe Calderón's plan to eliminate the [Tourism] Secretariat was not well received at first. In this column we forewarned that the PRI, led by Beatriz Paredes, will fight in Congress to reverse the proposal.
Nor were governors like Ulises Ruiz of Oaxaca, Zeferino Torreblanca of Guerrero, and Felix Gonzalez Canto of Quintana Roo positive about Tourism moving into the Economy Ministry, especially with the background of its head [Gerardo Ruiz Mateos].
But we can tell you that Secretary Ruiz Mateos is already making contact with the three main entrepreneurial federations that have a strong relationship with tourism.
We refer to Mario Sanchez of Concanaco; Salomon Presburger of Concamin; and Miguel Torruco of the CNT. They have been given the plans, in advance, for a thorough reengineering of the Secretariat of Economy.
Ruiz Mateos is now seeking contact with the leading entrepreneurs in the tourist sector. The goal is to lobby for the project with the most important investors in the so-called industry without smokestacks.
We are talking about Eduardo Sanchez Navarro, Gaston Azcarraga, Olegario Vazquez Raña, José Chapur, Daniel Chavez, Jose Luis Barraza, Michael Aleman, Angel Losada, etc.
[Ruiz Mateos] wants to clarify that the Tourism Ministry will not become an appendage of the Secretariat of Economy, as the intent is to redefine it, to give it a new status, and to position it more strongly in Calderon's economic cabinet.
According to reports, the new portfolio would be named the Secretariat of Industry, Tourism and Trade, and its restructuring will take between six and 18 months. The Under-secretariat of Tourism will totally concentrate on the public policy of the activity.
The Mexico Tourism Board … will move to ProMéxico, headed by Bruno Ferrari.
There are three known candidates to head what would be the new Under-secretariat of Tourism. One is Alejandro Moreno, the current Undersecretary of Tourist Operation….
He was the private secretary to ex-governor Ernesto Ruffo, and [State of Baja California] tourism secretary in the administration of former governor Eugenio Elorduy. He is [currently] in charge of the political relationships with governors.
Another contender is Oscar Fitch, who today heads the aforementioned Mexico Tourism Board that will be absorbed by ProMéxico, and he becomes a natural candidate for the new Under-secretariat.
The third is Carolina Cardenas, who was Under-secretary for Planning and Tourism. She left the position to run for a PAN legislative seat, which she lost. Thus, a political rescue cannot be ruled out.
So, the new Secretariat of Industry, Tourism and Trade is in the process of formation…. It remains to be seen if the PRI deputies will view it with the same optimism as the federal government.
Translated excerpt from "Tiempo de Negocios," a syndicated column by Darío Celis Estrada, El Imparcial, Hermosillo, Sonora, September 18, 2009. MexiData.info translation (edited). |
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