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Fonatur Obtains Benefits
Mario López – Reforma
Fuente : http://www.presidencia.gob.mx / Fotos por Jesus de Avila

The National Tourism Development Fund(Fonatur) was the entity with the greatest benefits in the Federal Government budget Project.

By 2008, its proposed budget is to reach 1,174.5 million pesos, which represents a five-fold increase over last year’s.

The Federal Government allocated resources for 2,927.6 million pesos for the Tourism Ministry that is, 55.62percent higher than the House of Representatives authorized for this year; 40% of which are assigned to Fonatur.

According to the Treasury’s document, Fonatur will concentrate its functions in sustaining and consolidating the tourist destinations of Ixtapa, Los Cabos, Cancun, Huatulco and Loreto, as well as the developments of projects such as the  Mar de Cortes, Barrancas del Cobre, Nayarit’s Integrally  Planned Centers, Costa Maya, Palenque-Cascadas de Agua Azul, Cozumel and Kino Nuevo.
To that effect, 86 percent of the 1,174.5 million pesos of the Fund will be channeled to physical investment.

"(Fonatur) will keep promoting investment and financing in the tourism sector, in order to do so, it will evaluate touristic projects, it will strive to develop Integrally  Planned Centers and it will sell touristic real estate” as per the strategy of the Tourism Ministry.

The Treasury has vowed to allocate 542 million pesos to regional programs, which would represent a 10.4 percent increase over what was authorized for this year.

The document proposes a 67 percent increase, from 14.8 million to 24.9 million pesos to the budget for the Center for Higher Tourism Education, in charge of opportunity and sector studies.

The Consejo de Promoción Turística de México (Mexican Tourism Promotion Council), would receive an extra 9.7 percent just for current expenses.

Gordon Viberg, president of the National Tourism Council, said the private sector endorses the Tourism Ministry’s decision to give more attention to market research.

Francisco Mijares, president of the National Chamber of Restaurants, declared the Tourism Ministry’s budget percentage of the total is still too low.

Source: http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/