Mexico Expects 22.6 Million Foreign Visitors in 2010, Matching 2008 Levels

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As some American senior citizens find it difficult to afford health care, many have moved to Mexico as an alternative for treatment and medicine. Kelly Cobiella reports from the town of Manzanillo. Mexico Tourism Minister Gloria Guevara said the country expects to have 22.6 million foreign tourists this year, matching the industry’s 2008 numbers before swine flu hurt activity last year.

The number of visitors grew 20 percent from January through August from the same period a year earlier, the minister said without specifying figures in an interview on Radio Formula.

From January to July, Mexico’s tourism industry received $1.8 billion in investment, 28 percent more than in the same period in 2009, Guevara said.

“This shows confidence in Mexico continues,” Guevara said. “Investors are still betting on Mexico and betting on tourism.”

Mexico’s travel industry has been hit by concerns about violence associated with drug trafficking, an outbreak of H1N1 flu last year and the global economic slump. Tourism revenue fell 15 percent to $11.3 billion in 2009 from $13.3 billion 2008, according to the ministry.

Source: bloomberg.net

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