Gay Nagle Myers
Mexican archaeological sites, museums and historical monuments attracted more than 18.2 million visitors in 2011, according to statistics released by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
“Of last year’s visitors, 10.6 million visited archaeological sites and 7.6 million went to museums and historical sites,” according to the institute.
Of the total visitors, 3.5 million were foreigners, although both international and domestic numbers are expected to increase this year as interest builds in the Mayan calendar, which comes to the end of its current cycle on Dec. 21.
Top INAH sites in 2011 included the Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone northeast of Mexico City as well as the National History Museum at Chapultapec Castle and National Museum of Anthropology, both in Mexico City.
INAH currently oversees 183 archaeological sites, 117 museums and 17 historical monuments.