Gay Nagle Myers
It’s shaping up as a busy meeting month in Mexico as the country plays host to two international events drawing top tourism, travel industry and business leaders as well as representatives from organizations from around the world.
The T-20 Summit in Merida May 15 and 16, a prelude to the G-20 event set for June 18 and 19 in Los Cabos, will welcome tourism ministers from the world’s major and emerging economies to discuss strengthening the tourism sector, streamlining tourist flow between nations, increasing jobs and promoting sustainable tourism.
Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara said that the meeting also would enable Mexico to showcase tourism offerings, such as Rutas de Mexico, Mundo Maya, Gastronomic Routes and Magical Towns, “to those responsible for tourism policy of the world’s most developed countries.”
Representatives from the U.N. World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the International Civil Aviation Organization, the European Commission and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) will attend, as well.
Following the T-20, tourism ministers and other delegates travel from Merida to the Riviera Maya to attend the inaugural Americas Summit of the WTTC May 16 to 18, the first in a series of WTTC regional gatherings.
More than 500 CEOs throughout the Americas are expected to attend; the Grand Velas Riviera Maya is the venue for the summit.
Speakers will include Mexican President Felipe Calderon, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai and WTTC President and CEO David Scowsill.
Working sessions will cover the role of governments in driving jobs and economic growth, the challenges of guaranteeing security while easing visa regulations and the barriers to increasing air traffic to the region.
The agenda is packed, but delegates will have a chance on post-trips to visit nearby Playa del Carmen, the Kukulcan Mall in Cancun, Xcaret ecological park and the ruins at Tulum and Chichen Itza.
For a schedule of all events, visit www.wttc.org/events/the-americas.