Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Mexico’s most important travel industry event, Tianguis Turistico Mexico 2012, will be held in a new region for the first time in 37 years: Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta. The conference will be jointly held by the two destinations from March 25-28, and special deals, events and other opportunities will be offered as a way of encouraging travel professionals to stay on and explore the region.

Officials also hope to increase interest in the area and attract new business for all of Mexico’s travel industry through their extensive efforts to make this year’s Tianguis as appealing as possible to buyers, tourism professionals and participants attending the conference.

The two destinations are working together to make the conference an ideal opportunity for participants to enjoy all the region has to offer its visitors. This includes special rates for hotels, car rentals, golf courses, sightseeing, dining and other activities, which will allow travel professionals to get a better feel for the area and its various attractions. Hotels in both Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta are already preparing for the event by setting aside special room blocks at discounted rates for Tianguis participants.

In addition, federal and state government authorities have met with local travel industry representatives from both destinations in order to plan conference center exhibition distribution and convenient transportation routes, as well as to design events and attractions in each locale. For example, Tianguis participants will have the opportunity to experience two exclusive golf tournaments on different dates at El Tigre Golf and Country Club in Riviera Nayarit and Vista Vallarta Golf Club in Puerto Vallarta.

In addition, Restaurant Week Tianguis 2012 Edition promises to treat participants to fine regional cuisine with specially priced three-course gourmet menus at restaurants in both Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit. Other offered activities will include a polo competition in San Pancho and the Extravaganza Nautica sailing and watersports competitions that will take place throughout the month of March.

Such events are designed to boost the country’s travel industry by highlighting the various attractions of the two destinations. Riviera Nayarit, advertised as Mexico’s newest destination, sits along 192 miles of the Pacific coast, including the Nuevo Vallarta resorts, the colonial town of San Blas, quaint fishing villages and Banderas Bay. The area boasts a variety of attractions designed to appeal to visitors of all ages and tastes, such as PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, ziplining, surfing, international cuisine and local artwork of the Huichol tribe.

Puerto Vallarta also features miles of coastline, and additionally includes a diverse topography of tropical jungles, rivers, mountainsides and flatlands. The destination boasts a traditional Mexican atmosphere with cultural entertainment such as live music and artists in the downtown main square and authentic Mexican flavors throughout the area.

Additional activities, sightseeing programs and festive events are in the works for Tianguis, and more information will shortly be available. Travel industry professionals will soon be able to book their participation on the conference website, TianguisTuristicoMexico.com, which is currently being updated in preparation for the upcoming event.