SECTUR

SECTUR
Name	Secretaría de Turismo
Native name	Secretaría de Turismo (SECTUR)
Formed	1974
Jurisdiction	Mexico
Headquarters	Mexico City
Minister1 name	Miguel Torruco Marqués
Minister1 pfo	Secretary of Tourism
Website	Official website

SECTUR SECTUR is the common acronym for Mexico's national tourism ministry, the Secretaría de Turismo. It coordinates national policy on tourism across Mexico City, Baja California, Jalisco, Quintana Roo and other states, working with federal agencies such as the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit, the Secretariat of Economy, and the National Institute of Anthropology and History. SECTUR interfaces with international bodies including the World Tourism Organization, the World Travel & Tourism Council, and bilateral partners such as the United States and Spain to promote Mexican destinations like Cancún, Puebla de Zaragoza, Oaxaca de Juárez, Chichén Itzá, and Pátzcuaro.

History

SECTUR was created during the presidency of Luis Echeverría Álvarez as part of a reorganization of federal agencies aimed at promoting tourism development and infrastructure. Early initiatives linked SECTUR with projects in Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos, coordinating with the Mexican Social Security Institute on worker services and the Federal Electricity Commission on utilities for resorts. Through administrations of presidents such as Carlos Salinas de Gortari, Ernesto Zedillo, Felipe Calderón, and Enrique Peña Nieto, SECTUR adapted policies related to trade liberalization under the North American Free Trade Agreement and heritage management of sites inscribed by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. In the 21st century SECTUR has shifted to emphasize sustainable tourism and crisis management, responding to events like the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organization and structure

SECTUR's internal structure typically includes secretarial offices, undersecretariats, and delegations in states such as Chiapas, Nuevo León, and Veracruz. It coordinates with sector agencies like the National Tourism Fund and autonomous bodies such as the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Leadership appointments are made by the President of Mexico and the officeholder collaborates with the Senate of the Republic on legislative matters. SECTUR maintains regional directorates in tourist corridors like Riviera Maya and urban tourism nodes such as Guadalajara and Monterrey, liaising with municipal governments and institutions like the Federal Electricity Commission and the Federal Telecommunications Institute for infrastructure and promotion.

Functions and responsibilities

SECTUR is charged with designing and implementing national tourism policy, promoting domestic and international tourism to destinations including Tulum, Taxco de Alarcón, and San Miguel de Allende, and supporting airlines and carriers such as Aeroméxico and the Mexican airline industry through regulatory coordination. It promotes cultural heritage sites managed by the National Institute of Anthropology and History and works with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources on protected areas like Isla Guadalupe and the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. SECTUR administers programs for small and medium enterprises, cooperating with the Mexican Social Security Institute and development banks such as the National Bank of Public Works and Services to finance hospitality projects. It also handles statistical reporting in conjunction with the National Institute of Statistics and Geography and contributes to national strategies involving the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs for visa and entry facilitation.

Programs and initiatives

SECTUR has launched promotional initiatives aimed at boosting arrivals to coastal destinations like Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlán and cultural itineraries highlighting sites such as Monte Albán, Palenque, and Uxmal. Programs have included support for rural tourism in regions like San Cristóbal de las Casas and revitalization projects in colonial cities such as Querétaro City. SECTUR has implemented certification schemes collaborating with international standards bodies including the International Organization for Standardization and partnerships with private associations such as the Mexican Association of Hotels and Motels and the Mexican Association of Travel Agents to improve service quality. Response initiatives to crises—coordinated with the Ministry of Health (Mexico) and international partners like the Pan American Health Organization—addressed pandemic recovery and safety protocols for transport hubs like Mexico City International Airport.

International relations and cooperation

SECTUR represents Mexican tourism interests in multilateral forums such as the World Tourism Organization and engages in bilateral promotion with countries including the United States, Canada, Spain, Germany, and Argentina. It partners with development institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank on infrastructure and sustainable tourism projects, and cooperates with conservation organizations like World Wildlife Fund on biodiversity-linked tourism in locations like Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. SECTUR also participates in regional initiatives with the Pacific Alliance and the Organization of American States to harmonize travel facilitation and promotional campaigns.

Criticisms and controversies

SECTUR has faced criticism over tourism development in sensitive sites such as Isla Holbox and sections of Riviera Maya, where environmental groups including Greenpeace and local communities have clashed with developers and municipal authorities. Debates have involved coordination with the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources and legal challenges in courts including the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation over land use and conservation. Critics have also cited promotional spending and transparency concerns scrutinized by oversight institutions such as the Federal Electoral Institute and the Superior Auditor of the Federation. Controversies have arisen around crisis management during events like the COVID-19 pandemic and security issues affecting tourists in regions where federal forces such as the National Guard (Mexico) and state police operate.

Category:Government agencies of Mexico