Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Mexico’s most important travel industry event, Tianguis Turistico 2012, will be held in Puerto Vallarta from March 25-28, and the city is preparing a series of cultural, recreational and dining events to showcase all of the wonderful things that the destination has to offer to its visitors.

Pre-Tianguis Golf Tournament with Lorena Ochoa

On March 23, Vista Vallarta Golf Club will host a Pre-Tianguis Golf Tournament with the world's top-ranked female golfer from 2007 to 2010, Lorena Ochoa. A proud ambassador of Tourism in Jalisco, Lorena once described the Banderas Bay region as "a privileged destination with extraordinary golf courses, but more importantly, as a place with friendly people who offer high-quality services."

During this tournament, various business partners and buyers will have the opportunity to play with one of the best golfers in the world at Vista Vallarta Golf Club, which has hosted many world-class golf tournaments and is a favorite among event planners around the globe.

Spread across 478 acres and encompassing two 18-hole, par-72 championship courses, the Signature course designed by golf icon Jack Nicklaus, and the neighboring course designed by golf-great Tom Weiskopf, are first-rate venues for those on their game. This will be an unforgettable experience for 80 lucky golfers to play alongside exceptional Jalisco athletes, like Lorena Ochoa, Sophia Sheridan and Regina Plasencia.

Vallarta Wine Fest 2012

Considering the growing importance of the wine culture in the culinary world, this year's Vallarta Wine Fest will be held from March 22-27 at some of the Banderas Bay area's finest hotels and restaurants, in order to share the cultural experience with Tianguis participants.

The official opening of Wine Fest 2012 will take place on Thursday, March 22, 2012 in the Puerto Vallarta City Hall courtyard. There will be a "wine of honor" for attendees, a brief presentation by the municipal theater group and an awards ceremony for winners of the poetry contest. The Festival continues at 21 participating restaurants with wine tastings and food pairing menus at 6:00 pm from March 22-27.

Restaurant Week Tianguis Edition

When it comes to fine dining, Puerto Vallarta restaurants do it "con gusto." Eating out is a big part of the Banderas Bay area's attraction, offering a wide variety of dining choices in restaurants renowned for their innovative menus and world-renowned chefs serving Mexican, Italian, French, Argentinian, Japanese and International cuisine. So it stands to reason that a special edition of Vallarta Restaurant Week will be held from March 22-29, 2012.

During this special gourmet celebration, some of the finest restaurants in Puerto Vallarta and around the bay will be offering spectacular three-course menus with discounts of up to 50%, offering Tianguis Turistico participants and attendees unlimited potential for an unforgettable dining experience.

The Malecón in all its Splendor – Music and Fireworks

Offering an interesting mix of natural beauty, modern architecture and Mexican tradition, Puerto Vallarta's newly renovated Malecón has enhanced the image and competitiveness of the city as a global vacation destination that can simultaneously offer both relaxation and a bustling cultural scene.

All of this will be showcased to Tianguis Turistico 2012 attendees on Monday, March 26 from 8 to 11 pm as the city of Puerto Vallarta presents a spectacular fireworks display over Banderas Bay and a concert by the renowned Mariachi Vargas.

Participation of Puerto Vallarta Businesses

The number of Puerto Vallarta businesses participating in the 2012 edition of Tianguis Turistico Mexico shows a common front with a clear objective: the promotion of the destination and showing strong unity among the various providers of tourism services. Puerto Vallarta will have a delegation of 72 representatives from various companies that provide touristic services such as hotels, DMC's, and tour operators, among others.

The Jalisco delegation comprises 138 representatives, who hope to increase interest in Vallarta and attract new business through their extensive efforts to make this year’s Tianguis as appealing as possible to buyers, tourism professionals, and participants attending the conference.