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Fernando, thank you very much for such a warm welcome. I
am delighted to be once again with all of you. This is a very
important event for me because I really believe that travel
and tourism is a great way to build stronger ties and share
common values between our countries. I am sure that the 31st
edition of Expo Vacaciones USA will be an enormous success,
and I really appreciate all your efforts in order to promote
the United States.
Just a few minutes ago, the fifth edition of the SeeAmerica
Media Day was held. This event represents a joint effort to
increase the exposure and coverage of U.S. travel and tourism
destinations and services among the most important travel
and tourism media in Mexico. With the participation of 24
exhibitors and almost 60 journalists, the SeeAmerica Media
Day represented an unparalleled opportunity to inform the
Mexican travel and tourism market about the latest attractions
and destinations that the United States can offer.
I am really confident that this event will enrich the relationship
between various U.S. destinations and the Mexican specialized
media.
On the other hand, it is really nice for me to talk about
the re-launch in Mexico of the Travel Barometer Program of
the U.S. Department of Commerce. This program collects qualitative
information from top travel and tourism companies in Mexico
that promote the United States as a tourist destination. If
you need additional information about this program, I encourage
you to contact Robyn Kessler and Juan Carlos Ruiz at the U.S.
Commercial Service.
We cannot underestimate the importance of the travel and
tourism sector for the U.S. economy. In 2006, total U.S. international
travel receipts, was a record $108 billion, which directly
supported almost one million American jobs.
Mexico continued its prominence of being the second source
of international travelers to the United States just after
Canada. In 2006, more than 13 million Mexicans traveled to
the United States and generated receipts of $9.3 billion.
Tourism is an equally important priority here in Mexico.
Last Thursday, President Calderon met with the Minister of
Tourism and several key private sector businessmen to discuss
this important sector. President Calderon strongly believes
that tourism is a key generator of income and economic opportunity
in Mexico. This will be well supported through the recently
created National Infrastructure Fund which will promote tourism
investment in this country.
As part of our commitment to continue promoting the United
States as a tourist destination in Mexico, over the next few
days we will begin distribution of the “Discover America”
guide through our Embassy and Consulates across Mexico. This
Spanish-language guide will contain updated information about
the most important destinations in the United States for Mexican
travelers. You will also be able to find the Discover America
guide in the Expo Vacaciones trade show, and I am sure that
this guide will be a great tool to plan your next vacation
to the United States.
Finally, it is a pleasure to announce the winner of the fifth
annual SeeAmerica Travel Writer Award, that acknowledges the
best article published in 2007 about a destination or travel
and tourism service in the United States. This time, the prize
is a one-week trip for two people to the lovely island of
Puerto Rico.
This prize would not be possible without the participation
of our partners of the private sector. Therefore, I would
like to thank the sponsors that made possible the Fifth Annual
SeeAmerica Travel Writer Award:
Yolanda Ramírez, Tour & Travel Director of Marriott México,
who contributed with one-week lodging in the San Juan Resort
& Stellaris Casino y la Concha Reinassance Resort Hotels
in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Antonia Gutiérrez Pedroza, Country Sales Director of American
Airlines Mexico, who contributed two round way trip tickets
to Puerto Rico.
And last but not least, Alex Pace, Director of Budget Rent-A-Car
Mexico, who contributed with car rental service in the United
States.
And now, the moment everybody has been waiting for. It is
a pleasure to announce the winners of the Fifth Annual SeeAmerica
Travel Writer Award:
Second Runner-Up - Enrique Escalona for his article “Exhilarating
Baltimore: Entusiasmo por la Diversión,” printed
in the magazine Diez de Mexicana.
First Runner-Up - Jaime Casillas-Ugarte for “Río
Arriba en Montana,” published in Travesías magazine.
And finally, the winner of the SeeAmerica Travel Writer Award,
Alicia Boy for her article “Oregon: los frutos de otoño,”
published in Mujer-Es Banorte.
Congratulations to all of our winners, and now let’s cut
the ribbon for Expo Vacaciones USA 2008!
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