The Mexico Tourism Board recently announced that the country continues to see growth in its meetings industry: According to the International Association of Congresses and Conventions (ICCA), Mexico now ranks fifth in the Americas in terms of the number of hosted events. The association says that Mexico events included 182 world congresses and more than 300,000 meetings last year. These numbers seem to be a result of Mexico’s global initiative to position and promote the country as Latin America’s leader in the world congress market.
“Our world-class conference facilities, accommodations and welcoming community are the drivers behind Mexico’s continued growth and its recognition as a top global industry player in the meetings and events space,” said Hector Flores, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. “Additionally, Mexico’s strong commitment to increasing air connectivity allows us to facilitate travel from all corners of the world.”
The meetings industry plays a key role in Mexico’s economy. The more than 300,000 annual gatherings — including corporate events, congresses, incentive groups, exhibitions, and summits — have an impact of $25 billion, the equivalent of 1.5 percent of Mexico’s GDP.
According to the Mexico Tourism Board, last year the country hosted 182 large-scale congresses alone. A few notable events included the World Congress of Ophthalmology, with 8,000 attendees in Guadalajara; the World Congress of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Health, with 5,000 participants in Mexico City; and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, which was held in Mexico City with 350,000 participants.
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Mexico Tourism Board
www.visitmexico.com
