MEXICO CITY, December 27 2006- Starting on January 23, the U.S. Department of State will require U.S. citizens (including children) traveling by air to present a valid passport for travel and re-entry into the United States. Mexico tourism officials do not expect this new law to have a substantial impact on tourism in the middle and long term as the majority of international visitors to Mexico by air already hold passports.

Growth in Tourism According to the U.S. Department of State, 27 percent of Americans (about 70 million people) already have a passport, and the number of passports issued continues to grow, with 10 million passports issued during fiscal year 2005 and 12 million expected to be issued in fiscal year 2006. As the percentage of citizens holding passport increases, so does the chance of them leaving the country for tourism.

People will feel a heightened sense of safety flying with a passport as the authenticity is much easier to verify.

The Immigration Institute of Mexico (INM) estimates that 75.8 percent of the Americans traveling to Mexico by air in the first nine months of 2006 did so with a passport even though they were not required to do so, meaning that they either obtained a passport specifically to travel to Mexico or they already possessed a passport. Despite the fact that United States’ majority does not own passports, this statistic means that most travelers from the U.S. to Mexico by air do.

Rodolfo Elizondo, Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism stated that “Mexico’s proximity to the US, our country’s cultural heritage, the wide number of tourist attractions that we offer, and the hospitality of our people all contribute to Mexico’s ranking as the number one international destination for Americans. We are confident that these attractions, not documentation requirements, are what make so many millions of Americans choose Mexico as their vacation destination.”

Strategic Campaigns Mexico is using a variety of different tactics to educate consumers about the United States’ new passport requirement. The Mexico Tourism Board is implementing several initiatives, including distributing press and video news releases, micromedia flashes and information packets; organizing consumer contests and events; and giving out promotional materials, such as passport holders. The MTB has also added the slogan “We want you back in Mexico. Please get a passport” to its advertising in an attempt to entice U.S. citizens to obtain their passports.

In addition to the Mexico Tourism Board’s efforts, destinations that receive large numbers of American tourists are also doing their part to educate Americans about the law. The Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched “V.I.P., Very Important Passport” program encouraging U.S. visitors to spread the word. The campaign will include posters created for high-traffic U.S. vacationer sites that include relevant U.S. passport information and the U.S. Department of State website address. They have also distributed hundreds of thousands of informational coupons about the new passport requirement, some of which are imprinted by local retailers with an individual message of their own, ranging from a discount to special value offer.

“Our campaign will reach virtually every American visitor vacationing in Cancun for the next three months,” said Artemio Santos, chief executive officer for the Cancun CVB. “We are providing tourism businesses like hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions with the necessary information and tools to reach visitors to Cancun several times during an individual vacationer’s stay. This is a destination-wide undertaking,” said Santos.

Tour operators and travel agents are also strategizing to educate their customers on the new law. Funjet, one of the top U.S. tour operators for Mexico, has created an online program to inform travel agents on the new requirements and how to reach out to their customers proactively regarding passports. The program includes guidelines for organizing “passport parties” for consumers, designed to facilitate passport processing for people who have traveled to Mexico in the past with other forms of identification.

For more information, please visit http://travel.state.gov/passport and www.visitmexico.com.

About the Mexico Tourism Board The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

About Chichen-Itza, the World Wonder Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation is revising the original seven ancient wonders of the world, and Mexico’s Chichen-Itza in Yucatan State is one of 21 finalists to become a new Seven World Wonder. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, Chichen-Itza is considered to have been one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan peninsula, and today is one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico. To vote for Chichen-Itza as one of the new Seven World Wonders, visit www.new7wonders.com

For centuries, the world has been mystified and intrigued by this unique culture. Considered one of the greatest civilizations of all time, and regarded as the most outstanding intellects of ancient Mexico, the Mayans were a cutting edge society, incredibly enlightened for their time. Not only were the Mayans an incredibly advanced civilization much like the Greeks, but their legacy also remains today in areas that spread from Central Mexico to Honduras, similarly to the Greeks legacy which has transgressed the tests of time.

Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto is entirely in the Yucatec Maya language and the cast consists of local indigenous Mayan actors. Filmed in Veracruz, Mexico, the movie depicts ancient Mayan life and also connotes to the Mayan prophecy, “Fin de los Tiempos”, in which they prophesized that the world would end its 5,200-year fourth and current cycle on the winter solstice of December 21, 2012. Cycles play a huge role in the Mayan culture and a great amount of their time was spent studying astronomical rotations and synchronicity to human events.

While the major Mayan cities portrayed in the movie are gone, the ruins still remain offering visitors to Mexico a unique piece of history and culture to absorb.

Mayan Culture
The Mayans cultivated the most advanced written language of the hemisphere, excelled as astronomers and were highly-skilled mathematicians, being the first in the world to arrive at the concept of zero, and use complex calculations. They were also admirable urban planners and their grand cities were filled with monumental temples which were built without the use of tools as we know them today.

Mayan cities were carefully designed with temples and places in the center and a nearby ball court, which enabled the Mayans to play a game considered to be the precursor to soccer. The ruins of these amazing cities are found throughout Mexico, specifically in the Yucatan states. Exciting new finds in the field of archaeology are revealing countless treasures from their temples and pyramids as scientists work to unravel mysteries of the past.

The area of the Mayan civilization extended throughout the northern Central American region which includes the present-day nations of Guatemala, Belize, western Honduras and El Salvador, as well as the southern Mexican states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Campeche, and Yucatan. Their history can be traced through three major periods: the pre-Classic from 2000 B.C. to 200 A.D.; the Classic from 200 A.D. to 900 A.D.; and the post-Classic era from 900 A.D. to 1521 A.D. As people worldwide are in awe of these advanced people, it is becoming increasingly popular to study them and learn more about the Mayans via travel, literature and now, film.

Chichen-Itza
Of their most notable constructions, Chichen-Itza remains one of the most famous Mayan sites, and is currently a finalist to become a new Seven World Wonder. Located in Yucatan State, Chichen-Itza is one of Mexico’s most archaeologically impressive creations, and one of the country’s most visited landmarks. When built by the Mayans, these magnificent pyramids were perfectly aligned to the sun and Chichen-Itza was constructed in such a way that during the equinoxes, the setting sun casts a shadow of a serpent descending on the northern steps of the pyramid. This effect was a result of the Mayan’s incredibly precise astronomical and architectural measurements and Chichen-Itza was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998.

Chichen-Itza, which reached its peak between 700 and 1200 AD, was the political, economic and military power in the area. It is surrounded by lush green vegetation, underground rivers, natural wells and limestone that the Mayans used to construct their magnificent buildings. There are scenes in Apocalypto where the Mayans are completely covered in white limestone dust, showing the intensity of labor that was exhibited while creating their massive pyramids and temples.

Tulum
If Chichen-Itza awes the observer with its size and complexity, Tulum charms with its location on a limestone cliff above the turquoise splendor of the Caribbean. Located about 75 miles south of Cancun in the state of Quintana Roo, Tulum is the only completely walled Mayan settlement known and is so popular that it attracts about 2 million visitors annually.

This small collection of temples on a bluff overlooking the blue-green sea served as a major trading center and port for the 4,000 or so Mayan canoes that plied the seas from Mexico’s northern coast to South America. Laden with feathers, furs, jade, medicinal herbs, salt, and honey, these canoes navigated a network of inland canals dug by the Mayans to facilitate travel. Tulum’s largest temple, El Castillo, probably served as a lighthouse to guide mariners through an opening in the coral reef.

Uxmal
Another important ruin in the Yucatan Peninsula is Uxmal, located 50 miles south of Merida. Uxmal is the peerless example of classic Pu’uc architecture named for the hilly Pu’uc region of northwestern Yucatan where this style attained its ultimate refinement. It’s also the largest site, known for its exquisite sense of proportion. The invention of a local type of cement made from seashells allowed for the construction of wide arches, huge gateways and impressive rooms which add to the beautiful proportions.

Yucatan Peninsula
In addition to fascinating ruins and colonial treasures, Mexico’s Yucatan State also offers much for ecotourism and the adventure tourist enthusiast. Its climates have produced forest surroundings that support a wide range of fauna. Visitors can enjoy sports in the open sea in Yucalpeten, while birdwatchers can admire the wide range of species found in El Palmar as well as the impressive flamingo population of Celestun. The lack of surface rivers means that the state obtains water from a complex system of underground rivers, which attract scuba divers and snorkelers. Limestone sinkholes, or cenotes, are also great for exploring.

While the Yucatan State may offer a wide range of Mayan culture and fantastic tourism options, Veracruz State is the site where Apocalypto was filmed. The footage floats from the jungles of Catemaco to the City of Veracruz, offering an excellent look at the southeastern state which invested 1.8 million dollars into tourism in 2005.

After seeing Apocalypto, one will surely be inspired to travel to Mexico and learn more about the country’s vast indigenous cultures. From the cinematography to the amazing landscape, Apocalypto offers a unique look at prehispanic Mexico, and the influences which remain today.

For more information, please visit www.apocalypto.com and www.visitmexicopress.com.

About the Mexico Tourism Board
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. Created in 1999, the MTB is Mexico’s tourism promotion agency, and its participants include members of both the private and public sectors. The MTB has offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.

About Chichen-Itza, the World Wonder
Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation is revising the original seven ancient wonders of the world, and Mexico’s Chichen-Itza in Yucatan State is one of 21 finalists to become a new Seven World Wonder. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998, Chichen-Itza is considered to have been one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatan peninsula, and today is one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico. To vote for Chichen-Itza as one of the new Seven World Wonders, visit www.new7wonders.com

Central Mexico is filled with colonial treasures, and two of the most alluring are the cities of Guanajuato (gwah-na-whah-toh) and San Miguel de Allende. Looking on a map, you’ll find them northwest of Mexico City and just southeast of the city of Leon. If your gateway is Leon, you’ll be an hour from Guanajuato, and if you leave from Mexico City, you’ll have a very pleasant four-hour deluxe bus ride to either city. The cities, though only an hour apart, offer completely different opportunities for travelers. Each is unique with its own personality, charm and style.

I had always heard a lot about San Miguel de Allende. This wonderfully eclectic and mesmerizing city has one of the largest populations of Americans living in Mexico. It has the unique ability to maintain all of its historic grandeur while thriving as a cosmopolitan art community. In 1951, the founding of the Instituto Allende, dedicated to the study of all forms of art (and considered the largest school of fine arts in Latin America for English-speaking students), established San Miguel as a city devoted to creativity.

Local musicians pepper San Miguel’s shady town square in the shadow of the brilliant La Parroquia church. A European postcard inspired its builder, bringing to life Mexico’s version of a gothic cathedral. The narrow cobblestone streets keep things intimate while the galleries and shops are bustling with Americans interested in original works and regional handicrafts. Most everything is within walking distance and a self directed walking tour takes you past countless cozy restaurants, fantastic inns and small hotels. (Check out the Casa de Sierra Nevada, it’s one of Mexico’s finest small luxury properties with an absolutely astounding gourmet restaurant.) If you’re just beginning to explore Mexico’s colonial cities, this is a good place to start. Safe, popular, and filled with plenty of Americans and English speakers, you’ll adore San Miguel.

Guanajuato, on the other hand, is purely Mexican. You won’t find many Americans here, but you’ll be glad you came. This town is so magical that it’s difficult to describe in words. I personally feel it’s one of the most amazing cities in all of Mexico. It has mysticism and charm only rivaled by the small Italian villages in Tuscany or the Andalusian cities in southern Spain. Founded in 1557 as a silver mining town, Guanajuato is built over a maze of unusual subterranean street systems. Once used as control channels for floodwaters, the roads twist and turn through stone arched tunnels that bring you to the surface in various locations throughout the city. Above ground, you’ll find one of the most picturesque and colorful displays of architecture anywhere in the world. Splashes of bright greens, blues and yellows give the perfectly preserved buildings a storybook quality. A labyrinth of tiny streets, alleyways and steep stairwells cover the hillsides. This feels much more like a medieval village than a colonial city. If you’re into photography, you’ll be in heaven!

At the city center is the Jardin de Union. Cafes, shops, colonial buildings, and the Teatro Juarez encircle this pristine V-shaped plaza. (Constructed from 1873-1903, the Juarez Theater is a beautiful combination of Doric, French and Moorish architecture.) Also a very safe city, exploring on foot is the best way to appreciate the multitude of sites. First time visitors may want to hire a guide as some of Guanajuato’s treasures may be rather complicated to find within the city’s layout. From churches to fortresses and museums to national monuments, Guanajuato is a real gem. Mexico’s colonial cities are worth a visit. So why not add to your next beach vacation and discover some culture?