Mexico gearing up for Chinese tourism
Se habla Chinese? Apparently not enough Mexicans do, so the country’s Tourism and Economy Departments are joining with the elite College of Mexico to prepare for a growing flow of tourists from the world’s most populous nation.
The program outlined in a news release on Friday includes instruction in Chinese for tourism workers and the addition of Chinese-speakers at a telephone assistance number for visitors.
It also seeks to train tourism workers in Chinese culture so that they can meet the expectations of visitors in terms of food, recreation and courtesy.
More: signonsandiego.com
Chinese President to visit U.S, Canada and Mexico in September
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday that Chinese President Hu Jintao plans to visit the United States, Canada and Mexico from Sept. 5 to 17.
The White House said this week President George W. Bush would host Hu on Sept. 7.
China and the U.S. have gone through months of rising trade friction as well as growing cooperation on trying to stop North Korea's nuclear arms ambitions.
Hu will also attend the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York, which runs from Sept. 13-16.
The Foreign Ministry statement did
Mexico resorts getting back in the swim
Tourism officials in the hurricane-battered Mexican state of Quintana Roo hope to have 80 percent of the accommodations and amenities in the affected Caribbean coast resorts fully operational by February.
The Yucatan Peninsula state, home to tourism magnets Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya, accounts for about 36 percent of Mexico's nearly $11 billion tourism industry, according to Quintana Roo tourism secretary Gabriela Rodriguez.
Hurricane Wilma hit Cancun the hardest in late October, closing most of its hotel rooms. Between 8,000 and 10,000 of the city's approximately 25,000 hotel rooms are now open, and officials expect
China promises to crack down on Chinese contraband in Mexico
Chinese President Hu Jintao promised Mexican President Vicente Fox on Monday that his country would crack down on the millions of dollars worth of Chinese contraband entering this country, goods that undermine Mexican businesses from sandal makers to religious icon sellers.
During his three-day state visit, his first since Fox took office in December 2000, Hu pledged that his government would investigate all complaints Mexico passed along, including tracking down and punishing specific companies that allegedly smuggle in the goods, a Fox spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.
Fox mentioned
Mexico's Caribbean tourism resurfacing
Even as Mexican tourism officials sound the all-clear for parts of its Caribbean playground ravaged by Hurricane Wilma last month, potential visitors may find the destination cumbersome and costly to access thanks to cutbacks in air service among U.S. carriers.
American Airlines, a major player in the market, won't resume normal schedules until February, though it has added flights in December to meet holiday demand. United, Delta and Continental also have reduced service until at least mid-December. US Airways resumes its full schedule Dec. 1.
In the meantime, officials hoping to salvage the lucrative winter season are trying to
Turmoil batters Mexico tourism
A human head washes up on an Acapulco beach. Protestors hassle visitors at makeshift checkpoints in the colonial city of Oaxaca. And in Mexico City, leftist demonstrators turn the tourist draws of Reforma Ave. and the Zocalo plaza into sprawling, ragtag protest camps.
Growing political unrest and drug violence are making foreigners think twice about visiting Mexico, where the $11.8 billion (U.S.) tourism industry is the countrys third-largest legal source of income, after oil and remittances from migrants in the United States.
Mexico has been struggling since last fall, when Hurricane Wilma hit the countrys biggest tourism
Mexico tourism rises despite hurricanes
Nearly 22 million foreign tourists visited Mexico last year, 6.5 percent more than in 2004, according to Tourism Department data.
The visitors spent a total of $11.8 billion in Mexico, the department said in a news release Saturday.
The rise in tourists came despite three ferocious hurricanes that hit last year.
Hurricanes Emily, Stan and Wilma struck the country between July and October, killing 75 people and causing $2.15 billion worth of damage.
Wilma smashed directly into Cancun, the nation's glitzy Caribbean resort, on Oct. 22, damaging hotels and clearing sand from some beaches.
More: mercurynews.com
China, Mexico sign cultural development agreement
The governments of Mexico and China on Tuesday signed an agreement to promote the teaching of the Chinese language and culture in Mexico through a series of teaching institutions named after Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Mexican Education Secretary Reyes Tamez and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Ji signed the agreement at the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the E-9 ministers of education, in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey.
The four Confucius centers will be built at Mexico city's National Autonomous University, the country's largest educational institution, and the autonomous universities of Yucatan, Guadelajara and
China, Mexico sign cultural development agreement
The governments of Mexico and China on Tuesday signed an agreement to promote the teaching of the Chinese language and culture in Mexico through a series of teaching institutions named after Chinese philosopher Confucius.
Mexican Education Secretary Reyes Tamez and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Ji signed the agreement at the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the E-9 ministers of education, in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey.
The four Confucius centers will be built at Mexico city's National Autonomous University, the country's largest educational institution, and the autonomous universities of Yucatan, Guadelajara and
Chinese FM meets with counterparts from Russia, Bolivia, Mexico
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met Monday with his counterparts from Russia, Bolivia and Mexico on the sidelines of the 60th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
During his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Li said Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met for many times, and reached new and important consensus on how to deepen the bilateral relationship.
China will cooperate closely with Russia to translate the consensus into action, and to enhance the development of bilateral relations, Li stressed.
Lavrov expressed
State hopes float brings attention to New Mexico
New Mexico is hoping a float in the Tournament of Roses parade Monday in Pasadena, Calif., brings attention to the state.
New Mexico’s entry, called “Land of Enchantment,†is the latest in an aggressive effort by New Mexico officials to market the state for tourism and movies.
Gov. Bill Richardson not only will be waving to parade-goers from the float, he also will have talks with California film industry officials.
The Tourism Department also hopes to get the attention of football fans by giving away free tickets to the Rose Bowl.
The state’s float will cost
