Riviera Nayarit, Mexico - On Tuesday, September 3, the Government of the People and the Riviera Nayarit CVB signed an agreement with Canadian travel wholesaler Vacances Transat that will bring new flights and attract 13,063 tourists to the Banderas Bay region. The agreement was signed by Nayarit Tourism Secretary Raul Rodrigo Perez Hernandez and Renee Boisvert, the Vice President of Transat Holidays' Southern Packages.

Since this agreement was made within the framework of the "Vallarta Nayarit. Live it to Believe it!" joint promotion led by the Tourism Board of Mexico (CPTM), in addition to Nayarit Tourism Secretary Raul Rodrigo Perez Hernandez and Riviera Nayarit CVB President Fernando González Ortega, the President of the Puerto Vallarta Hotel and Motel Association, Nacho Cadena, was among the dignitaries at the signing ceremony.

"This is a very important event for Nayarit and Jalisco, even for the whole country, because it has achieved the goal of attracting more tourism and that's good for all of Mexico. We are experiencing a new stage in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit that has never existed before, the alliance and partnership between businessmen from both destinations and the Governments of the States is impressive, it is an environment of real effort with good vibrations."

"In 2012 and 2013 our numbers began to improve, and the best is yet to come. But more importantly, this increase in tourism that we are making in a historic manner for the region is for the benefit of all. Taxi drivers, merchants, restaurateurs, all of the people involved in the hospitality and tourism industry in both states will benefit, and they'll be able to give a better life to their families, that's the important thing," Tourism Secretary Raul Rodrigo Perez said prior to signing.

The agreement includes new flights from Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto and promotional work with the wholesaler, which includes a strong advertising campaign for the 2013-2014 season that is expected to increase the seating capacity by 13,063 on flights that Vacances Transat operates, for a total of over 83,000 seats available through this wholesaler alone.

"This is just the latest good news in what has been a string of good news for Vallarta-Nayarit that started with the announcements of the agreements made with Apple Vacations and Funjet Vacations. Last week, when reviewing the scope of the CPTM Vallarta-Nayarit campaign, we realized that this brings us to 19 advertising campaigns in the United States and Canada that will increase the influx of tourists to the region by 20 percent. And it is especially good news because both our Governor, Roberto Sandoval, and the Governor of Jalisco, Aristotle Sandoval, have endorsed the campaign and are committed to working together for the next four years," said Gonzalez Ortega.

Vacances Transat is at the core of the vertical integration process adopted by its parent company, Transat A.T. Inc. As the leader in Canada’s holiday travel industry, Transat A.T. has offered travel packages to over 60 destinations in 25 countries for over 25 years.

The CVB of Riviera Nayarit, a non-profit civil association dedicated exclusively to promoting tourism, reaffirms its commitment to all Nayaritas to support actions like this that are also reflected in social benefits for all the people.