Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - In a recent press conference, the director of the Office of Conventions and Visitors (OCV), Miguel Andrés Hernández Arteaga, reported that 16 sporting events are scheduled to be held in Puerto Vallarta this year, with the goal of strengthening the destination's reputation as a paradise for sports tourism.

In this regard, the OCV director commented that the city is seriously committed to improving tourism in many different segments, with the objective of increasing hotel occupancies and tourists' expenditures, which consequently benefits the people who live and work here.

In the case of the 16 sports activities that have been integrated, according to the historical trends of participation and income it is estimated that these events will attract more than 42 thousand visitors, who will fill 66,300 hotel room nights and contribute more than 239 million pesos to the city's economy.

By adding new local, national, or even international events, said Hernández Arteaga, these figures could increase by up to 25 percent.

The events that are already scheduled take place here in 2017 are: the VII Acir Group Athletic Race, the Sixth Half Marathon Seapal Vallarta and the 16th Athletic Race for Water on March 20; the IV Vallarta-Riviera Tennis Tournament from April 28 to 30; the 28th International Sports Classic from May 3 to 7; and the 29th edition of the Vallarta Cup from May 3 to 7.

From June to October, sporting events scheduled to take place include: the Vallarta Marineras basketball tournament; the 2nd Vallarta Color race on June 18; the Crossfit Double Weekend Challenge in October; and the Half Day Medical Marathon on October 22.

In the last two months of the year, the 1st Christian Coexistence football tournament will be held from November 1 to 5, followed by another edition of the same event from 16 to 20 November; the Magical World Cheer & Dance Championship from 17 to 21 May, Mexico Moonshine Bike & Race from November 18 to 21; the Cheer & Dance Cup from December 1 to 3, along with the Playa de Los Muertos fishing and Beach Volleyball tournaments.

For his part, Ludwig Estrada, regional director of the Ministry of Tourism of Jalisco, commented that the events designed to attract the sports tourism segment to Puerto Vallarta are only some of the world-class events that have great potential to benefit the local economy by attracting thousands of visitors.

To contribute to the success of these sporting events, the OCV and the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust will 'team up' to promote them all on their social networks and on the city's official website.