Moneymakers: FIVE QUESTIONS WITH MARTIN GONZALEZ
Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:55 AM
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By Jenalia Moreno, Houston Chronicle
Aug. 13--Despite the economic slowdown, Mexico continues to attract a growing number of U.S. tourists.

Cancun, Cabo San Lucas and Cozumel are among some of the nation's top destinations for Houstonians.

Martin Gonzalez, recently named director of the Mexico Tourism Board in Houston, spoke with Chronicle reporter Jenalia Moreno about Mexico's tourism industry, Mexico versus Europe as a destination and the nation's attraction to U.S. retirees.

Q: What are some of Mexico's new tourism destinations?

A: Recently, this commission (UNESCO) met that declares world heritage sites and it accepted the nomination of more Mexican destinations.

One is San Miguel de Allende, and the other is the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere, where the monarch butterfly arrives year after year. It's a zone that's in two states -- Michoacan and Jalisco.

They are promoting new destinations that have the objective of competing internationally.

Q: Are more U.S. travelers going to Mexico instead of Europe because of the strength of the euro and the weakness of the dollar?

A: In the period of January to May of this year, it has gone well for us.

The country has received about $5.1 billion -- 10 percent more than the same period as last year. We have received almost 6 million tourists. This signifies a 5 percent increase in the same period last year.

Today, the U.S. tourist spends an average of $811. I think the U.S. consumer perceives that their dollar is worth more in Mexican destinations than in European destinations.

Q: How important is tourism for Mexico's economy?

A: Tourism represents the fourth source of income for the country after petroleum, manufacturing and remittances. At the end of last year, the country received about $13 billion from tourists.

Tourism activity is responsible for 2.5 millions of jobs.

Q: How has the increase in crime along the border affected tourism there?

A: During the year, the numbers are constant. We have 63 million people who take a day trip to the borders. We had about 8 million people who stayed more than a day and they at least slept on the border last year.

The economic activity continues on the border despite the bad perception that could exist due to the phenomenon that has been presented, but that is isolated.

Q: Are American retirees still buying houses on the border despite the housing slowdown here?

A: Mexico has about 1 million U.S. citizens living or possessing a second home in the country. We hope the numbers will double or triple. With the costs of retiring in the U.S. economy, it's cheaper to live in Mexico.

If you review Puerto Penasco or Rocky Point, as they call it, you will see a great number of residents from the state of Arizona who have their second home there.

If you go to San Miguel de Allende, paradoxically you have to speak English to live there because of the quantity of people from the U.S. who live there. It's not just the initial cost of housing, but the daily cost of living is cheaper.

jenalia.moreno@chron.com

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