Mexico Charts a Unified Tourism Position Ahead of USMCA Review

Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) participated in the USMCA Tourism Sector Forum, held on October 21 at the Ministry of Economy, with the goal of strengthening the positioning of the country’s tourism sector ahead of the upcoming review of the trilateral agreement between Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Representing the Minister of Tourism, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, the Director General of Planning, Rodrigo Cerda Cornejo, emphasized that the forum brought together representatives from airlines, business chambers, hotel associations, and public and private organizations, who shared their main proposals, challenges, and opportunities for Mexican tourism within the framework of the trade pact.

Cerda Cornejo highlighted the importance of directly hearing the sector’s concerns in order to integrate them into the position that Mexico will present to its commercial partners.

“From the Ministry of Tourism, we reaffirm our commitment to a more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive tourism model, in full alignment with the goals of the USMCA. This effort adds to the actions promoted by the Mexican government to make tourism a true generator of Shared Prosperity, as instructed by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo,” he stated.

The official affirmed that, through its participation in this forum, Sectur reaffirms its role as a leader in shaping public policies that strengthen the competitiveness of Mexican tourism and consolidate its strategic position within North America.

Among the most important topics discussed were the harmonization of tourism standards among the three countries, trilateral cooperation in investment, mobility, and tourism promotion, and the recognition of specialized segments such as medical, wellness, and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism.

The Ministry of Economy will compile the information gathered during the forum — with technical support from Sectur — to define the position that will represent Mexico in the upcoming review process of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Gertrudis Mercado Cruz, Director General of Light Industries, and Sergio Silva Castañeda, Head of the Unit for Economic Promotion and Growth at the Ministry of Economy, emphasized the importance of tourism as one of the country’s main drivers of employment and economic development.