Mexico's Secretariat of Tourism

Mexico's Secretariat of Tourism
Agency name	Secretariat of Tourism
Native name	Secretaría de Turismo
Formed	1974
Preceding1	Secretariat of Commerce and Industry
Jurisdiction	Mexico
Headquarters	Mexico City
Minister1 name	(See article)
Website	(official website)

Mexico's Secretariat of Tourism

Mexico's Secretariat of Tourism is a federal cabinet-level institution charged with developing and promoting tourism in Mexico, coordinating with state and municipal authorities, and interacting with international organizations such as the World Tourism Organization, United Nations, and World Travel & Tourism Council. It operates within the institutional ecosystem that includes the Presidency of Mexico, the Congress of the Union, and agencies like the Secretariat of Economy and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation. The Secretariat engages with private-sector stakeholders including the Asociación Mexicana de Turismo, hotel chains such as Grupo Posadas, and industry events like the Fitur and ITB Berlin.

History

The Secretariat emerged from mid-20th-century policy debates about promoting tourism in Mexico and was established as a separate cabinet office in 1974 during the administration of Luis Echeverría Álvarez. Its roots trace to earlier bodies within the Secretariat of Commerce and Industry and initiatives tied to state-led development projects in destinations like Cancún, Acapulco, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta. Over successive presidencies—Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, José López Portillo, Miguel de la Madrid, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Ernesto Zedillo, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderón, Enrique Peña Nieto, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador—the Secretariat adapted policies to shifts in international travel trends, global crises such as the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, and trade liberalization tied to agreements like the North American Free Trade Agreement and its successor, the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement.

Organization and Structure

The Secretariat is led by a Secretary appointed by the President of Mexico and comprises directorates and decentralized agencies including the National Institute of Anthropology and History, when collaboration is required for cultural heritage, and state-level tourism ministries in entities such as Quintana Roo, Yucatán, Oaxaca, Jalisco, and Baja California Sur. Internal units cover areas like strategic planning, international affairs, product development, and regulation, interfacing with institutions including the Federal Electricity Commission for infrastructure coordination and the Secretariat of Health for safety protocols. It also oversees or coordinates with parastatal bodies such as the Fondo Nacional de Fomento al Turismo (FONATUR) in developing resort zones.

Responsibilities and Functions

Key functions include destination planning for major sites like Chichén Itzá, Teotihuacan, and Monte Albán, regulatory oversight of hospitality standards and certifications tied to organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization, coordination of air access through partnerships with carriers and airports like Aeropuerto Internacional de la Ciudad de México and Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico, and crisis management in collaboration with entities like the Secretariat of National Defense and the Secretariat of the Navy when maritime or security incidents affect tourists. The Secretariat also compiles statistics in concert with the National Institute of Statistics and Geography and negotiates multilateral cooperation with bodies such as the Inter-American Development Bank.

Programs and Initiatives

Signature programs have included the development of integrated resort projects by FONATUR, rural and community tourism initiatives linked to UNESCO biosphere reserves such as Sian Ka'an, and sustainable tourism pilots in destinations like Isla Mujeres and the Mar de Cortés. Initiatives have targeted market diversification toward source markets including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, and emerging markets such as China and Brazil. The Secretariat has launched skills and certification programs for hospitality labor pools, often partnering with institutions like the National Autonomous University of Mexico and vocational agencies to support workforce development in hospitality clusters such as Cancún–Riviera Maya and Puerto Vallarta–Bahía de Banderas.

Tourism Promotion and Marketing

Promotion campaigns have employed national branding efforts to feature cultural assets such as Day of the Dead festivities in Oaxaca and Michoacán, archaeological sites like Palenque, and urban tourism in Mexico City with landmarks such as the Zócalo and Museo Nacional de Antropología. The Secretariat budgets for participation in international fairs including WTM London and runs joint promotions with airlines like Aeroméxico and cruise lines docking at ports such as Ensenada and Cozumel. Collaborative marketing with state tourism boards and private conglomerates has emphasized niche segments: culinary tourism linked to chefs like Enrique Olvera, adventure tourism in the Sierra Madre, and cultural routes such as the Ruta del Vino in Baja California.

Budget and Funding

Funding streams include federal budget allocations approved by the Chamber of Deputies, revenue from public trusts like FONATUR, and public–private partnerships with multinational hotel groups and investors such as Grupo Vidanta and Grupo Xcaret. Budgetary priorities fluctuate with macroeconomic policies set by the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit and audit oversight by the Superior Auditor of the Federation. External financing has been secured through multilateral lenders like the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank for infrastructure and sustainable tourism projects.

Criticism and Controversies

The Secretariat has faced criticism over environmental impacts of large resort developments in locations like Cancún and Los Cabos, disputes over land and ejido rights involving communities in Quintana Roo and Yucatán, and debates about the role of mass tourism versus cultural preservation at sites such as Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. Controversies have also involved procurement and award processes with private contractors, transparency concerns raised by watchdogs like Transparencia Mexicana, and policy shifts under different administrations that affected continuity in long-term projects promoted by entities including FONATUR.

Category:Tourism in Mexico Category:Mexican federal executive departments and agencies