Riviera Maya, Mexico - Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico Secretary of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu and Governor of the Mexican State of Quintana Roo Roberto Borge Angulo were on hand Thursday at the Vidanta Theater to help announce Grupo Vidanta's $1.3 billion investment in new tourism projects.

The luxury resort and tourism developer will bring new attractions including premier golf courses, additional luxury resorts and theme parks animated by Cirque du Soleil to Mexico. The site of JOYA by Cirque du Soleil – launched late last year by Grupo Vidanta and already one of Mexico's fastest growing tourist attractions – served as the backdrop for Mexico's government leaders to share their vision for the future of international tourism growth in Mexico.

Grupo Vidanta, founded by Daniel Chavez Moran in 1974, has grown its workforce from 12,000 to 15,000 employees in the last 3 years and plans to add an additional 3,000 employees across the company's architecture, design, construction and operations practices by 2018 through jobs created in the development of new tourism projects.

Peña Nieto praised the investment of Grupo Vidanta and noted that Mexico needs more success stories like those of Grupo Vidanta and founder Daniel Chavez Moran, so that more Mexican people can find opportunity for personal fulfillment.

Annually, Grupo Vidanta attracts more than 700,000 visitors – 500,000 of which travel from foreign countries – to premier resort properties at Nuevo Vallarta, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Acapulco, Puerto Penasco, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.

Grupo Vidanta's development of the world's first theme parks animated by Cirque du Soleil are expected to draw an additional 2.5 million annual visitors with the first park's inauguration in 2019.

Grupo Vidanta recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest luxury resort, The Grand Mayan Puerto Penasco, and Vidanta Golf – already the largest operator of golf courses in Mexico – will add a new premier golf course for visitors in The Greg Norman Golf Course at Vidanta Nuevo Vallarta in 2015.

Press Conference Quotes

Said Grupo Vidanta founder Daniel Chavez Moran, "Mexico is a place for opportunities. With over 40 years of experience as a driver of Mexican tourism, Grupo Vidanta has learned the best results for Mexico are achieved when we work collaboratively to recruit the world's top brands in travel and entertainment as partners and create unique vacation dreams in Mexico that rival that of any destination in the world. That strategy has allowed Grupo Vidanta to sustain annual visitation growth of 15 percent at our developments, serve more than half a million foreign visitors, and achieve revenues of nearly $700 million each year."

Said Mexico Secretary of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu, "Today is one of the most important announcements of investments in this sector in recent years. An announcement that shows there is confidence in Mexico, in its government and its people. This investment represents more than a number or amount, it represents the conviction of Grupo Vidanta that the tourism sector will continue to grow, will continue to gain ground against other international competitors; that it will continue to produce smiles for visitors and opportunities for thousands in our regions."

Said Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, "I commend you for what you have achieved, for the achievements that have been obtained with daily effort to become an exemplary group within the tourism sector."

For more information on Grupo Vidanta, visit GrupoVidanta.com.