Tourists up 19% in first 8 months

A large percentage went to this beach.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico News Daily | Sunday, October 12, 2014

International tourism numbers are way up for the first eight months of the year, according to Bank of Mexico statistics.

The Tourism Secretariat said in a news release that international visitors totaled 19.3 million during the period, up “a significant” 19% over the previous year. Total spending came in at US $11.1 billion, which was up 18%.

Just under half those visitors — 9.3 million — arrived by air, an increase of 10% over last year.

The average expenditure by visitors during the first eight months was estimated at $861, up 10% from the $780 recorded during the same period in 2013.

Mexico is one of the top 15 tourism destinations in the world, according to the Mexico Tourism Board, and received 24.2 million visitors last year.

One airline that has seen a big increase in traffic to Mexico is Lufthansa, which is forecasting that it will finish the year with a 50% increase in passengers traveling between Germany and Mexico.

The airline said economic improvement in Mexico and the initiation of a new route from Munich are contributing to the growth.

Source: EFE (sp), Azteca Noticias (sp)

- See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/tourist-numbers-19-first-eight-months/#sthash.2XWSe4cF.dpuf

Report: Mexico Ranks #10 in Global 'Wellness Tourism'

Nelson Alcantara - ETurboNews.com
go to original
June 11, 2014

According to the recently released Global Wellness Tourism Economy 2013 report by the Global Wellness Institute, Mexico ranks #10 for domestic and international wellness tourism expenditures with $8.9 billion.

Did you know that in 2012, global wellness tourism generated $438.6 billion in expenditures, created 11.7 million direct jobs, and contributed a total economic impact of $1.3 trillion to the world economy?

According to the recently released report Global Wellness Tourism Economy 2013 by the Global Wellness Institute, niche tourism is a rapidly growing component within the global travel and tourism industry.

"Wellness tourism shares many commonalities with a range of other niche tourism segments, including overlapping travel motivations and interests. A ‘secondary purpose’ wellness traveler may be simultaneously engaging in adventure tourism, culinary tourism, or eco-tourism as a primary or secondary interest during the same trip."

The Global Wellness Tourism Economy 2013 report states: "Wellness tourism’s impact on the global economy includes the direct effects of tourists’ trips and expenditures, as well as their indirect and induced effects on the overall economy."

The Global Wellness Institute report reveals that while North America is second to Europe in terms of combined international/inbound and domestic wellness trips in 2012, (163 million trips and 203 million trips, respectively) North American wellness tourists spend the most - around $181 billion.

On the other hand, Europeans spent $158.4 billion. Asia Pacific clocked in 120 million trips and generated $69.4 billion. Latin America came in fourth with 32 million trips and $22.4 billion in expenditures. Middle East and North Africa had a combined 5 million wellness tourists and generated $5.3 billion in expenditures. In the Sub-Saharan region, there were 2 million wellness trips, which generated $2 billion in expenditures.

The Global Wellness Tourism Economy 2013 reveals that the United States is number one in the top 20 countries for domestic and international wellness tourism expenditures with $167.1 billion, followed by Germany at $42.2 billion, Japan at number three with 28.6 billion, France at number 4 with $24.1 billion, Austria at number 5 with $14 billion, Canada at number 6 with $13.8 billion, United Kingdom at number 7 with $12.3 billion, Italy at number 8 with $11.7 billion, Switzerland at number 9 with $11.4 billion, and Mexico at number 10 with $8.9 billion.

Completing the top 20 countries list are China at 11, Spain at 12, South Korea at 13, Thailand at 14, Australia at 15, India at 16, Russia at 17, Portugal at 18, Greece at 19, and Turkey at 20.

For a copy of the report or for further information on the Global Wellness Institute, point your browser to gsws.org.

Maz Tourism Up 200 Percent

by Maureen Dietrich on 10 May 14 in Home | 0 Comment |  Print |

Three new international markets are opening for Sinaloa: China, Colombia and Europe.

Speaking at the national tour agents fair in Cancún yesterday Pablo Castro, Mexican director of Expedia.com, said Mazatlán is a destination which registered an historic increase of 200 percent in tourism during 2013, putting it among the top ten destinations in Mexico.

He cited three reasons influencing the upswing: the world economy, improved security and the successful promotion strategy of Mazatlán hotels.

Among hotels that saw a welcome increase in business, Castro mentioned the Riu, Pueblo Bonito and El Cid as well as small, medium and large hotels in Culiacán.

Nationally, Veracruz, Mexico City and Guadalajara increased their tourism by 150 to 200 percent in 2013, he added.

In the case of Mazatlán, he was surprised to find it in a recuperation stage to the point where it is now among the top ten tourist destinations in the country. Americans, Canadians and national visitors make up the majority of tourists visiting the port.

Three new international markets are opening for Sinaloa, he reported, with travel agents from China, Colombia and Europe showing an interest in providing package tours beginning the end of this year and into 2015.

Gabriel Badillo, director of the Premier travel agency specializing in promoting Mexican destinations internationally, advised Chinese tourists are particularly interested in travelling to the Copper Canyon whereas Colombian and European agencies have been liaising with Mazatlán hotels to provide packages for their clients.

At the well attended annual travel agents fair, the Sinaloa Secretary of Tourism and municipal Mayors presented a seminar on Sinaloa´s three Pueblos Mágicos offering a video showcasing Cosalá, El Rosario and El Fuerte.

 (from El Debate)

Mexico wants to focus on tourism

May 8, 2014

by Alex Erquicia

blogs.blouinnews.com

Stephanie Smith, SVP, MSLGROUP, New York and actor Kevin Spacey attend “Tianguis Turistico” Mexico 2014. AFP/Getty Images

In the midst of implementing President Enrique Peña Nieto’s structural reform agenda, Mexico is also trying to promote other sectors as a way to divert some of the frustration and opposition the reform plan has brought. The tourism industry is the latest one to take the spotlight as the government wants Mexico to become a global player in the field. Peña Nieto just announced plans to invest 180 billion pesos ($13.8 billion) in tourism infrastructure during his tenure until 2018 through the National Infrastructure Program (NIP). He presented the plan at the annual “Tianguis Turistico” the most important travel trade show in Mexico, currently taking place in Cancún (from May 6-9).

The plan is to spend the fresh cash on, first and foremost, improving infrastructure to boost the competitiveness of the tourism sector through upgrades to airports, roads and cruise ship terminals.”Mexico has everything necessary to become a tourism power at the global level,” president Peña Nieto told industry leaders gathered in Cancún. Mexico’s tourism industry is the nation’s fifth-biggest source of revenue — after manufacturing, oil, remittances and foreign direct investment — and employs about 7 million people. Key projects will include the modernization of tourist airports such as Mexico City, Cancún, Guadalajara, Los Cabos, Monterrey and Puerto Vallarta as well as the modernization of key cruise ship terminals in Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlán, reports BNAmericas. Improving tourism infrastructure is a key element in Mexican government’s recently unveiled 7.7 trillon-peso ($587 billon) national infrastructure plan for 2014-18.

The government says that 2013 was a good year for the tourism sector: almost 24 million foreign tourists travelled to Mexico generating revenues of more than $13.8 billion, the highest ever, Peña Nieto said.

However the number of visitors is very close to the one for 2012. The United States and Canada are the biggest source of international travelers to the nation, which is among the planet’s top five countries for the number of World Heritage sites. Meanwhile 68 million nationals travelled within the country in 2013. Private companies are expected to invest 109.6 billion-peso ($8.6 billion) in tourism over 2014–2016, with a focus on the construction of new hotels, the renovation of existing ones and improvements to public places.

Mexico’s Board of Tourism Businesses expects the investment to create 28,000 direct jobs and 78,000 indirect jobs, according to a recent Research and Markets report.

The government hopes for the infrastructure plan – along with results from its reform agenda – will grow the economy by 1.8% by 2018, generating some 350,000 additional jobs each year. The revamped focus to boost the tourism industry, and further its economic importance by the end of 2018, seems to suit Mexico perfectly now as it’s being praised around the world. Yet the plan could derail if the country doesn’t maintain its growth rate — economists just cut their forecast for Mexico’s economic growth in 2014 to 3.01%, down from 3.09% in March and considerably lower than the governments growth forecast for this year at 3.9% — and if the opposition to the reform package remains fierce.

U.S. Tourism in Mexico up 16.2%

by Murry Page

26 Apr 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

The United States Office of Travel and Tourism Industries reported that during January of this year 2.7 million tourists from the United States visited México, up 16.2% over January of 2013.

548,728 of those tourists arrived by air, which was an increase of 15.6 percent over the same month last year.

Tourists from the U.S. continue to be the most common tourists, comprising 44.6 percent of all tourists to México. Tourists from Europe rank second with 12.8 percent of the total followed by the Caribbean with 11.1 percent.

The number of Canadian tourists dropped 0.3 percent when compared to January 2013 to 7.7 percent of the total number of tourists.

(from Milenio)

International Tourism up 11.7% During First Two Months

by Murry Page

9 Apr 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

México’s Ministry of Tourism said that based on the figures from the Integrated Migration Operations (INM) in the first two months of this year 2.4 million international passengers arrived in the country, which represented a growth of 11.7 percent when compared to the same period of 2013. The United States, Canada and United Kingdom, produced the largest number of international tourists.

The Ministry of Tourism noted, however, that tourists from emerging countries is also growing, pointing out that tourists from Venezuela increased 40 percent.

Tourists from the United States during the first two months of the year amounted to 1.201 million, an increase of 14.7 percent, compared to the first two months of 2013. Similarly, INM figures revealed that the number of tourists from Canada, increased by 7.8 percent, while the number of tourists from the United Kingdom increased 6.2 percent.

Other significant increases included China with the number of visitors to México up 38.8 percent; Colombia up 21.1 percent; Peru up 10 percent and Russia up 4.4 percent.

(from El Sol de Mazatlán)

Mazatlán Airport Exceeds Acapulco in Passenger Arrivals

by Maureen Dietrich

10 Mar 14 

mazmessenger.com

The OMA report stated 33,811 foreigners arrived here, as compared to 7,728 in Acapulco.

Conforming to the national tendency, Mazatlán’s airport continues to recuperate passenger traffic bypassing other beach resorts such as Acapulco, but is still behind the strong competitors of Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos.

In February this year, 66,183 passengers arrived at the Rafael Buelna Airport, a 10.1 percent increase over the same time last year.

According to Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte OMA, operator of the airport, national passengers increased 9.6 percent while international arrivals increased 10.5 percent.

The OMA report stated 33,811 foreigners arrived here, as compared to 7,728 in Acapulco.

The most important increase in arrivals was registered in Zihuatenejo due to flights from Toronto, Minneapolis and Calgary, while Mazatlán benefited mainly from flights from Minneapolis.

However, Mazatlán continues to lag behind Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta which recorded 230,000 and 253,000 foreign passengers respectively in January this year.

 (from Noroeste)

Map of The Most Popular Countries in the World

movehub.com

It might come as a surprise to some that France is the world's biggest tourist destination in the world! Receiving nearly 20 Million more visitors annually than the runner up, USA. Doubly impressive when you consider that the US is over fifteen times the size of France.

Here's a map of the world detailing how many visitors each of these 165 countries gets each year.



France's high-density of tourist attractions, museums, monuments, historical sites and rich culture make it the world's most popular tourist destination.

The five least visited countries (that we have data for) are; The Solomon Islands (23,000), Moldova (11,000), Kiribati (5,300), Marshall Islands (5,000), Tuvalu (1,200).

You can also see the top 50 in the table below.

Top 50 most popular countries by visitors

Rank	Country	Annual Visitors
1	France	81,400,000
2	United States	62,700,000
3	China	57,600,000
4	Spain	56,700,000
5	Italy	46,100,000
6	Turkey	34,000,000
7	United Kingdom	29,300,000
8	Germany	28,400,000
9	Russian Federation	24,900,000
10	Malaysia	24,700,000
11	Mexico	23,400,000
12	Austria	23,000,000
13	Hong Kong SAR, China	22,300,000
14	Ukraine	21,400,000
15	Thailand	19,200,000
16	Saudi Arabia	17,500,000
17	Greece	16,400,000
18	Canada	16,000,000
19	Poland	13,400,000
20	Macao SAR, China	12,900,000
21	Netherlands	11,300,000
22	Singapore	10,400,000
23	Hungary	10,300,000
24	Croatia	9,900,000
25	Korea, Rep.	9,800,000
26	Egypt, Arab Rep.	9,500,000
27	Morocco	9,300,000
28	Czech Republic	8,800,000
29	Switzerland	8,500,000
30	South Africa	8,300,000
31	Indonesia	7,700,000
32	Ireland	7,600,000
33	Romania	7,600,000
34	Belgium	7,500,000
35	Denmark	7,400,000
36	Portugal	7,300,000
37	Bahrain	6,700,000
38	Bulgaria	6,300,000
39	India	6,300,000
40	Japan	6,200,000
41	Vietnam	6,000,000
42	Australia	5,900,000
43	Argentina	5,700,000
44	Brazil	5,400,000
45	Sweden	5,000,000
46	Norway	5,000,000
47	Tunisia	4,800,000
48	Dominican Republic	4,300,000
49	Finland	4,200,000
50	Jordan	4,000,000

OMA Reports a 10.3% Increase in January 2014 Passenger Traffic .

online.wsj.com


OMA Reports a 10.3% Increase in January 2014 Passenger Traffic 

MONTERREY, Mexico, Feb. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA (Nasdaq:OMAB) (BMV:OMA), reports that terminal passenger traffic at its 13 airports increased 10.3% in January 2014, as compared to January 2013. Domestic traffic increased 11.0%, and international traffic increased 7.2%.

Of total January traffic, 97.6% was commercial aviation and 2.4% was general aviation.

 
              Total Passengers* 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
                Jan 2013  Jan 2014   Change % 
 
Domestic         814,306    903,493      11.0 
--------------  --------  ---------  -------- 
International    178,254    191,019       7.2 
--------------  --------  ---------  -------- 
OMA Total        992,560  1,094,512      10.3 
--------------  --------  ---------  -------- 
 

* Terminal passengers: includes passengers on the three types of aviation (commercial, charter, and general aviation), and excludes passengers in transit.

Domestic traffic increased in eleven airports in January, with the most noteworthy increases in Monterrey (+5.8%; +21,763 passengers), Culiacán (+23.2%; +21,049), Ciudad Juárez (+16.8%; +8,662), and Torreón (+27.1%; +7,662). Monterrey increased traffic on the Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Toluca routes. Culiacán increased traffic on the Tijuana and Mexico City routes. Ciudad Juárez increased traffic on the Mexico City and Guadalajara routes. Torreón increased traffic on its Mexico City and Cancún routes. Domestic traffic decreased most in Zacatecas (-9.5%; -1,399 passengers) principally as a result of a decrease in general aviation traffic.

International traffic increased in seven airports in January. Traffic increased most significantly in Zihuatanejo (+34.9%; +9,566 passengers) and Mazatlán (+9.2%; +2,834) as a result of increases on their Minneapolis routes. The most significant reduction was in Acapulco (-14.0%; -1,438 passengers) as a result of lower traffic on the Montreal route.

The number of flight operations (takeoffs and landings) in January increased 1.0% as compared to the same month of last year. The number of domestic operations increased 1.7% and international operations decreased 3.3%.

The complete traffic report is available at http://ir.oma.aero.
 
This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are only predictions based on our current information and expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," or similar expressions. While OMA's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of OMA, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our most recent annual report filed on Form 20-F under the caption "Risk Factors." OMA undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Mexico welcomed 11.8 mn foreign visitors via air in 2013

latino.foxnews.com

Published February 03, 2014

EFE

 

 

Mexico welcomed nearly 11.8 million foreign tourists by air last year, up 9 percent from the 10.8 million visitors who arrived by air in 2012, the Tourism Secretariat said.

Figures are not yet available on tourist arrivals via all modes of transportation for last year, but the Bank of Mexico reported that 21.2 million foreigners visited the country during the first 11 months of 2013, generating revenues of $12.3 billion, a figure that was up 8.79 percent from the same period in 2012, the secretariat said.

Tourist arrivals rose 7.8 percent in December, compared to the same month in 2012, the secretariat said.
The United States was the top source of visitors, accounting for nearly 6.5 million tourists, up 9 percent from December 2012.

The biggest growth, however, was in tourists from Colombia, up 60.4 percent from the 2012 level, the secretariat said.

The number of visitors from Canada rose 1.8 percent, compared to 2012.

Tourist arrivals from Russia were up 39.9 percent, while the number of visitors from Peru increased 39 percent.

The number of tourists flying to Mexico from China rose 26.6 percent.

Tourism accounts for 9 percent of Mexico's GDP and ranks as the No. 3 source of foreign exchange, trailing only the oil industry and remittances.

The Mexican tourism industry directly employs about 2.5 million people.

EFE

Mexico’s stake up among US tourists

Monday, 13 January 2014 00:10 
BY ROCÍO ZAYAS
The News


Mexico has become the most popular international destination for U.S. tourists, as a report from the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Office said 15.2 million U.S. citizens visited Mexico in 2013.

The figure, up from 14.9 million in 2012, accounts for 32 percent of all international tourists from the U.S. in 2013, whereas 21 percent chose to spend time in Canada.

A report from the Banco de México, the nation’s central bank, said that international visitors to Mexico between January and October 2013 spent $11 million, 8.6 percent more than in 2012. The report predicted that the entire spend for 2013 would exceed the historic high in 2008.

Sectur reported that hotel occupations during the past year were up by 5.6 percent compared to 2012, as well as total private investment in the tourism industry of 112 billion pesos ($8.6 billion).

There were 19 new airline routes created last year, 13 domestic and six international, with a 10.7 percent increase in international flights.

A report carried out by CNET and the Anáhuac México-Norte University discovered that there was an 8.4 increase in international travel into the country during the first eight months of 2013. The biggest increases were travelers from Colombia (58.4 percent), the U.K. (18 percent), the U.S (8.9 percent), Brazil (5.4 percent) and Argentina (4.9 percent).

Sectur report finds slight jump in visitor numbers

Monday, 14 October 2013 01:10
THE NEWS

MEXICO CITY – Between January and August of the current year, 16 million international tourists arrived in Mexico, pouring more than $9.3 billion into the economy, the Tourism Secretariat (Sectur) reported in a Sunday press release.

According to Sectur, this represents an increase of 0.8 percent on the same period in 2012, when 15.8 million international tourists visited Mexico.

Francisco Madrid Flores, director of the School of Tourism at Anáhuac University, said that although 54 percent of the foreigners who visit Mexico come from the United States, the latter country’s budget problems will not affect Mexico’s 2013 tourism figures.

Mexico’s tourism sector has not seen such a positive second quarter since 2008, Madrid Flores said, adding that it would be difficult to imagine this changing in the last three months of the year.

“We’ve seen 16 months of rising numbers of tourists and the United States remains the principal market with 54 percent of arrivals, followed by Canada,” Madrid Flores said.

The next major tourist season for U.S. tourists is the end-of-the-year holidays, Madrid Flores said, adding that the majority of U.S. citizens who planned to travel during that time would have already purchased their tickets before the government shutdown in their country began.

Mexico lures tourists

Wednesday, 02 October 2013
BY NADJA BRANDT
Bloomberg News


Mexico’s oceanside resorts and Maya ruins are luring more visitors from abroad even as drug violence plagues parts of the country. The resurgence is spurring a wave of new investment by the hotel industry.

Hoteliers and investors are counting on a continued surge in tourism across Mexico, where gains in hotel room rates outpaced increases in the rest of Latin America even as the economy slowed this year. Travel growth is being driven by a rising middle class, expansion by business and visitors undeterred by the violent crime gripping northern Mexico.

“Security issues — perceived or real — travelers pay attention to, and they can impact travel,” Ricardo Suárez, a vice president of acquisitions at Stamford, Connecticut-based Starwood Hotels, said in a telephone interview. “But there is such strong economic growth in the country, it’s driving domestic travel and demand from the U.S. and, more recently, also from places like Europe, Russia and Asia.”

Hotel-room bookings for this year jumped 11 percent in July, compared with a 6 percent increase a year earlier, according to travel-services company Orbitz Worldwide Inc. Growth in bookings in the Caribbean, Central America and South America, meanwhile, is slowing, Chicago-based Orbitz said.

Hotel demand in Mexico is increasingly coming from places not traditionally associated with travel to the country. Tourists from China are almost as numerous at Starwood’s Latin America properties as those with a longer history of visiting the region, including Germans, Italians and the French, Suárez said.

International visitors arriving in Mexico by plane rose 8.4 percent in the first seven months of 2013 from the year-earlier period, according to data from Mexico’s tourism ministry.

Arrivals from China jumped 29 percent, while visitors from Russia increased 56 percent during the same period, according to the data. U.S. visitors made up 56 percent of total arrivals by air.

As travel demand has slowed in many parts of Latin America this year, “Mexico is helping mitigate some of this as it grows from increasing business activity as well as the return of the U.S. vacationer,” Starwood Hotels Chief Executive Officer Frits van Paasschen said on a July 25 conference call.

In July, Hyatt announced plans to spend $325 million in partnership with Fairfax, Va.-based Playa Hotels y Resorts on properties in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. The first two Hyatt-branded resorts in the partnership will open in Mexico later this year after a “multimillion-dollar” investment.

Mexico’s economy has slowed and is expected to expand 2 percent this year, the slowest growth in four years. Hotels are getting a boost from a bigger, more affluent middle class and manufacturing expansion by foreign companies.

OMA Reports a 3.6% Increase in August 2013 Passenger Traffic

 

• PRESS RELEASE
• September 5, 2013

MONTERREY, Mexico, Sept. 5, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mexican airport operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA (Nasdaq:OMAB) (BMV:OMA), reports that terminal passenger traffic at its 13 airports increased 3.6% in August 2013, as compared to August 2012. Domestic traffic increased 4.4%, and international traffic decreased 2.3%.

Of total August traffic, 98.0% was commercial aviation and 2.0% was general aviation.

 
                              Total Passengers* 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
                                                 Jan-Aug    Jan-Aug 
                 Aug-12     Aug-13    Change %     2012       2013    Change % 
Domestic        1,032,507  1,078,179       4.4  7,148,667  7,559,559       5.7 
--------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  -------- 
International     144,285    140,953     (2.3)  1,248,234  1,260,434       1.0 
--------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  -------- 
OMA Total       1,176,792  1,219,132       3.6  8,396,901  8,819,993       5.0 
--------------  ---------  ---------  --------  ---------  ---------  -------- 
* Terminal passengers: includes passengers on the 
 three types of aviation (commercial, charter, and 
 general aviation), and excludes passengers in transit.

Domestic traffic increased in eight airports in August, with the most noteworthy increases in Acapulco (+23.1%), Monterrey (+1.6%), and Reynosa (+24.9%). Acapulco traffic increased principally on the routes to Mexico City, Toluca, and Tijuana. Monterrey increased traffic on the Toluca, Mexico City, and Guadalajara routes. Reynosa increased traffic on the Mexico City route. The most significant reduction in domestic traffic was in Durango (-6.4%). Interjet started operating the Zacatecas-Mexico City route in August.

International traffic increased most significantly in Mazatlán (+16.7%) and Zacatecas (+18.6%), with both airports increasing their Dallas traffic. The most significant reductions were in Monterrey (-3.9%), Torreón (-29.6%), and San Luis Potosí (-11.4%). The Monterrey and San Luis Potosí airports were affected by reductions on their Houston routes, while Torreón was affected by a reduction in passenger traffic to Dallas.
The number of flight operations (takeoffs and landings) in August decreased 3.5% as compared to the same month of last year. The number of domestic operations decreased 2.0% and international operations decreased 12.9%.

The complete traffic report is available at http://ir.oma.aero

This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements are only predictions based on our current information and expectations and projections about future events. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "target," "estimate," or similar expressions. While OMA's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of OMA, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those discussed in our most recent annual report filed on Form 20-F under the caption "Risk Factors." OMA undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About OMA

Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V., known as OMA, operates 13 international airports in nine states of central and northern Mexico. OMA's airports serve Monterrey, Mexico's third largest metropolitan area, the tourist destinations of Acapulco, Mazatlán, and Zihuatanejo, and nine other regional centers and border cities. OMA also operates a hotel inside Terminal 2 of the Mexico City airport. OMA employs over 1,000 persons in order to offer passengers and clients, airport and commercial services in facilities that comply with all applicable international safety, security standards, and ISO 9001:2008. OMA's strategic shareholder members are ICA, Mexico's largest engineering, procurement, and construction company, and Aéroports de Paris Management, subsidiary of Aéroports de Paris, the second largest European airports operator. OMA is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (OMA) and on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (OMAB).

Results in for 2013 Tourist Satisfaction Study

Sep 13 2013

mazmessenger.com

 

Tourists spent 1,182 pesos per person, 10 percent less than last year.

Results of the third consecutive annual survey of tourists to Mazatlán conducted by Codesin zona sur and the Tres Islas Hotel Association were presented at a press conference yesterday.

The study found that this year tourists spent 1,182 pesos per person, 10 percent less than last year, and that at least 18 percent of visitors stayed in condominiums, departments or houses rather than hotels.

When asked what, if any, media promotion made them decide to vacation in Mazatlán, 59 percent said it was on the recommendation of family or friends, 37 percent said internet sites helped them decide and three percent said the promotion of Mazatlán during the Premios Oye! telecast was a factor.

Thirty-eight percent of vacationers arrived in Mazatlán by car, 27 percent by bus, 28 percent by air and seven percent via charter tours.

And while 93 percent of tourists rated Mazatlán as a good or excellent holiday destination, the remaining seven percent criticized the city´s image as being ugly and dirty with deteriorating sidewalks, constant approaches by vendors and poor quality in hotels and restaurants.

Despite the seven percent with complaints, the study reported 99 percent of those surveyed would return to vacation in Mazatlán and 98 percent said they would recommend the port. Pleasant people, a secure vacation spot and extraordinary beaches were the criteria on which they based their decision to return.

The study was conducted from July 18 through August 16 with interviews of 400 men and women over the age of 18 staying in an hotel for at least two nights who had participated in the decision to vacation in Mazatlán.

 (from Noroeste)

Pacífico Beer Finest in the World

Posted by Maureen Dietrich on 28 Aug 13

mazatlanmessenger.com

 

Pacífico is Number One in the Top Ten major beers of the world according to FindTheBest rankings.

Pacífico beer, which originated in Mazatlán, is considered Number One in the Top Ten major beers of the world according to an evaluation, study and ranking of the firm FindTheBest. The company gathers comments of consumers and experts on the Web worldwide.

In a press release, the Sinaloa Secretary of Tourism indicated the FindTheBest Top Ten ranking was published on the Yahoo! Finance internet page. Following Pacifico in first place were Michelob and Ballentine (USA), Negra Modelo (Mexico), Windhoek (Namibia), Aguila (Columbia), Smithwick´s (Ireland), Affligem Bonde (Belgium), Laurentina (Mozambique) and Michelob Ultra (USA), in that order.

The Pacífico brewery was launched in Mazatlán at the beginning of the 20^th century and began exporting to the United States in 1985. The beer occupies 15^th place in American preferences of imported beers.

The most important quality of a beer is its taste, said CEO of FindTheBest, Kevin O´Connor. However, the experience of drinking a beer includes various other secondary elements including the appearance, smell and texture, he added.

 (from Noroeste)

Mexico is safer than many cities in the U.S.

howsafeismexico.com

More than 150,000 Americans safely visit Mexico every day. And while the media sensationalizes stories of violence in Mexico, Mexico is safer than many major U.S. cities. Travelers feel relatively safe visiting popular U.S. cities like Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, New Orleans, Washington D.C, or Atlanta. Visitors from around the world enjoy these vibrant cities in relative, reasonable safety. Yet each of these cities is statistically less safe than Mexico.



Mexico and politically charged Media Bias.

In the debate on immigration reform in the US, the facts on safety in Mexico have become a casualty of politics. To change public opinion and policy, politicians sometimes throw fuel on the fire. If you make up an exciting story about "severed heads in the desert", it gets a lot of attention and people believe it. The governor of Arizona admitted this story was baseless, but only after months of damage was successfully inflicted to the image of Mexico. The homicide rates above are facts from the FBI, not political fabrications.

Media Favoritism versus Facts.

 

New Orleans is beloved and its renaissance is showcased in the news. The FBI reports the murder rate of New Orleans is declining, but it is nearly 4 times higher than all of Mexico and over 5 times higher than Mexico City. New Orleans is still an amazing place to visit and the Media is right to champion this inspirational city.  But Mexico is at least as remarkable and there is a clear difference in how each of these storied destinations is portrayed in contemporary news.

Every city and country has places that are safe and dangerous. Mexico is no exception. The areas that are dangerous should be avoided. And those that are safe should be enjoyed and celebrated.

How Safe Is Mexico: New Website Gains Popularity

By Staff Reporter, Jul 30, 2013 03:51 PM EDT
latintimes.com

 

There's a new website in town and it offers some interesting and useful information about Mexico's tourism and the safety in the country. Amidst the reports of crimes and political turmoil, the website, titled "How Safe Is Mexico?," offers potential tourists some surprising statistics about the country.

Like what, you ask? Did you know that visiting Yucatan is as safe as rural states in the United States, as it boasts a homicide rate that is lower than rural Wyoming, Montana, Oregon and Maine? Or that Mexico is safer than many other popular tourist destinations including, but not limited to, Ecuador, St. Lucia, Bahamas, Guatemala, Brazil, Honduras & Roatan, Belize, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic?

The website's goal is to emphasize the fact that one or two news reports about crime does not apply to the entire country, as Mexico is larger than Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and D.C. combined. Speaking of D.C., the website reveals that D.C. is four times more deadly than Mexico City.

Essentially, the website tries to combat what they call "sensationalized media" and the false impression many people have about the country, as violence is not as bad as it seems.

"Like most countries, Mexico has violent crime. Our concern is that the portrayal of this violence is sensationalized and inconsistent with the portrayals of other countries and travel destinations," reveal the makers of the website. "We do not suggest that Mexico is completely safe, nor is it as dangerous as it is represented. We offer specific factual comparisons so that travelers can make enlightened choices without the haze of politics and media hype."

"We hope that by comparing facts from various sources, you will see that Mexico is statistically safer than many popular tourism destinations. The endless barrage of negative media has a harmful effect on the resorts, destinations and people who want nothing more than to showcase what they have to offer. Whether you choose to visit this beautiful and diverse nation or some other exotic place, you should do so based on facts. We wish you safe and memorable journeys wherever your travels take you."

And lest you assume that this website is being funded by the Mexican government or the tourism bureau, know that "How Safe Is Mexico?" is an independent site created by Black Label Interactive. They reveal on their website that they have not accepted money for creating the site and that their sources include the U.N. World Health Organization, RRS y Associados-Prominix, the U.S. FBI, the U.S. State Department, NationMaster.com and USA Today.

Mexico is safer than many vacation destinations.

howsafeismexico.com

While the media often portrays Mexico as the most dangerous place on earth, it is statistically quite safe.

According to NationMaster.com which uses U.N.-based data, Mexico doesn’t even make the list of the 36 nations with the highest murder rates. Mild-mannered nations like Sweden and Switzerland top Mexico for murders on NationMaster.com.  The assault rate in the U.S. is nearly 5 times greater than that of Mexico in the independent Prominix report adjusted for under-reported crime.

Even when we add independent estimates for unreported homicides, Mexico ranks 21st behind many popular vacation destinations. Places we think of as idyllic Caribbean retreats have double, triple, even quadruple the murder rates of Mexico.

Mexico's famous vacation areas are even safer than the averaged statistics, and even safer still for tourists.

Global Crime Rates

howsafeismexico.com

Mexico has very low violent crime rates.

The U.S. Assault rate is 5 times higher than Mexico’s. Mexico’s violent crime rates for Assault, Kidnapping and Rape are substantially lower than Canada’s and yet the U.S. State Department issues no such warnings for Canada. The rate for Rape in the U.S. is more than double the rate in Mexico.  The numbers in the charts below have been adjusted for unreported crime from the respected 2012 Prominix report and are the most accurate statistics available on this subject.

Unless you are involved in the drug trade, you are statistically safer in Mexico than anywhere else in North America. Even though the U.S. murder rate of 4 per 100,000 is lower than Mexico’s, tourists and visitors are statistically safer in Mexico and much less likely to be a victim of violent crime than in the U.S., Canada and many other countries regarded as safe.





While some infamous crimes in Mexico were disturbing, the rate of violent crimes in Mexico is lower than the rates in many countries thought of as "safe."