Gay Nagle Myers
Mexican government officials are implementing a comprehensive plan to attract visitors to Campeche state on the Yucatan Peninsula.
This follows President Felipe Calderon’s recent pronouncement that he aims to make Mexico one of the world’s top tourist destinations by 2018. Mexico currently ranks 10th in the list of top tourist spots, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization.
Calderon signed a National Tourism Agreement that outlines strategies to bring Campeche up to date, including infrastructure upgrades and highway and commercial improvements to attract more investment.
Already underway is an upgrade and widening of the sidewalks in the capital city of Campeche's historical center to create a pedestrian-friendly area.
Multlingual signs have been installed at many of the city’s public monuments; life-size, bronze statues of a local fisherman and a shoeshine man have been commissioned, and several exhibits have opened in churches and parks.
Tourism promotional campaigns also are planned.
Campeche is bordered by the states of Quintana Roo, home to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya; Yucatan, where Merida is located; and Tabasco. Guatemala is located to the south, and
the Gulf of Mexico is on the west.
Campeche, one of Mexico’s least-populated and least-visited states, was home to the ancient Mayan culture, and many Mayan ruins can be found there.
The city of Campeche is a Unesco World Heritage Site, one of 31 in the country.