Mexico City - During the summer holidays, the states where the main four metropolitan areas of the country are located, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara and Puebla, will receive more than 9 million national and foreign visitors, which will generate 37.4 billion pesos (almost two billion USD), according to the Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce, Services and Tourism (Concanaco Servytur).

The president of Concanaco Servytur, José Manuel Lopez, said that tourism is still one of the main drivers of the country's economy, unlike the slowdown observed in other sectors.

He stressed that Mexico City stands to receive the largest number of visitors, with an expected 7,112,000 vacationers this summer. In contrast to beach resorts, the capital of the Republic offers attractions such as entertainment centers, the largest number of museums in the country, cultural and sporting events, among others, he added.

Jalisco authorities expect to receive 1,100,000 tourists this summer, which will generate an estimated 300 million dollars due to the attractiveness of Puerto Vallarta's beaches, and other destinations, such as the State Capital, Guadalajara; Zapopan, Tlaquepaque and Chapala, that are popular among tourists.

The Jalisco hotel sector estimates it will have an occupancy rate of 70-80 percent and expects that the largest percentage of visitors will arrive in Guadalajara.

Lopez said that Nuevo Leon is expected to welcome 350,000 tourists, which will generate a flow of about 100 million dollars and hotel occupancy at 75 percent, higher than in recent years, when it ranged between 70 and 74 percent.

Meanwhile, Puebla will receive 600,000 visitors, representing around 40 million dollars of income to the tourism sector, since it is a destination with many natural, cultural, gastronomic, archeological, historical and architectural attractions.