subject: Mexico Promotes South-eastern Region With Launch Of Mundo Maya 2012 [print this page] Plans for a new tourism programme have been announced by Mexican President, Felipe Calderon in a bid to attract more travellers to come to Mexico and take Cancun and Riviera Maya holidays.
The Mundo Maya 2012 campaign (Mayan World 2012) will promote the Mayan Culture Legacy in Mexico and the Mexican government are expecting the campaign to attract approximately 52 million tourists to the south-eastern region next year.
President Calderon said: Today we are the 10th power for tourism in the world, and we are working hard to be in the top five.
We want the world to know the splendours of the Mayan civilization, with the end goal of positioning Mexico as a privileged and unique touristic destination."
We want the world to know the splendours of the Mayan civilisation, with the end goal of positioning Mexico as a privileged and unique touristic destination."
It is expected that cultural tourism will increase Mexicos total tourism revenue by 35 per cent over the next eight years and the Mundo Maya 2012 campaign will help Mexico become one of the top-five most visited holiday destinations in the world.
The Mexican government will offer a wide selection of events which will take place across Mexicos Mayan World in the south east of the country between now and 21st December; the end of the Mayan calendar. The Mayan World comprises the states of Quintana Roo (home to Cancun), Yucatan, Campeche, Chiapas and Tabasco and during Mexico and Cancun holidays, travellers can visit six spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Calderon added: This effort looks to give an unprecedented boost to tourism activity in the country's south-eastern states, where this incredible civilisation was established. We want tourists from Mexico and the world to know Mexico. We want them to explore the unrivalled riches that this magical region has to offer.
Mexico is working hard to develop roads and facilities so that tourists can gain better access to the Mayans World archaeological sites. New buildings are under development including the new Palace of Maya Civilization and the Museo del Mundo Maya.
Mexicos secretary of tourism, Gloria Guevara Manzo, explained: The celebration of the end of the Mayan calendar's cycle is an extraordinary opportunity to promote the great cultural, historical and human heritage that we possess. We are so excited to share the unique Mayan culture with the world.
Situated on the northeast coast of Quintana Roo, Cancun is one of the countrys most popular regions for international tourists. The popular island tourist zone is thriving with restaurants, bars, nightclubs and luxurious Cancun hotels, and during holidays to Cancun, travellers can enjoy scuba diving and snorkelling activities at some of the worlds most beautiful waters.
The region is home to part of the worlds second-longest coral reef and divers can swim beneath the turquoise oceans surface and marvel at the colourful coral reefs and spectacular marine life. The National Marine Park of Cancun - created by British Sculptor, Jason deCaires Taylor - is a fantastic site for scuba diving and boasts hundreds of life-size sculptures of humans. Over 750,000 divers take holidays to Cancun each year.
