Mexico launches recovery plan

The Mexico Tourism Board has announced an investment plan to rebuild confidence in travel to the country following an outbreak of swine flu.

It is hoped the new proposals will protect the tourism industry and those employed within it, maintain air connections and reposition Mexico as a popular tourist destination/

Close to £58 million (1,200 million Mexican pesos) has been set aside by the Treasury and Mexico Tourism Board for this investment plan.

President Felipe Calderón said: "The recovery plan is the start of the campaign to encourage travellers to return to Mexico."

President Calderón confirmed that the government is looking at ways to reduce taxes in the tourism sector and to cover the losses suffered by the tourism sector over a three month period.

A 50 per cent reduction in cruise taxes is also under consideration.

Other plans include a financing program to help small and medium sized companies in the tourism and aviation sector.

The Foreign Office last week stopped advising against "all but essential" travel to Mexico, in effect allowing British travellers to consider trips once again.

Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, secretary of tourism in Mexico, confirmed that the fund of £58 million (1,200 million pesos) for the recovery plan will encompass a national and international PR strategy campaign.

Mr Torres said: "We are concentrating our resources in three main areas in order to respond effectively to all our audiences.

"We are therefore working closely with foreign governments and international organisations; our investors and commercial partners in all sectors; and the travel industry - tour operators, hotels, travel agencies, airlines, and the press and consumer."

The campaign will be coordinated by the Mexico Tourism Board and further details of the action plan will follow.

travelbite.co.uk staff