Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - During a visit with Canada's Secretary of Tourism, Gloria Guevara Manzo, West Jet officials announced the opening of new routes to Mexico during 2012. This represents a 40% growth in its operations to destinations in Mexico.

Guevara met in Calgary with Gregg Saretsky - President and CEO of West Jet, Bob Cummings, Executive Vice President - Sales, and Chris Averys - Vice President of West Jet Vacation.

The meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the relationship between Mexico and West Jet, and to announce that this year they are opening five new routes to destinations in our country, including a direct flight between Calgary and Mexico City.

West Jet is the largest low-cost airline in Canada and currently holds a 40% stake in the Canadian market. It flies to six destinations in Mexico: Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Cozumel, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, and Puerto Vallarta. They have increased weekly flights to Mexico from 84 to 95 for the winter season 2011-2012.

West Jet recently signed an alliance with Aeromexico to strengthen connectivity to various destinations in our country and increase frequency of flights.

In Vancouver, the head of Tourism Ministry also met with the leading tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, and tourism consortia in Canada with the aim of working together on strategies to promote the positive stories of travelers to Mexico.

Guevara explained that Canada is the second largest market for Mexico (behind the US), citing the fact that last year more than 1.5 million Canadians visited Mexico.

David McCaig, President of the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies (ACTA), which includes 82% of Canadian travel agents, said that insecurity is not a problem for Canadian tourism. "Wayfarers from our country like to visit Mexico for its many attractions and the hospitality of its people," he said.