Ms Gloria Guevara, Mexico's Tourism Minister, has offered to issue Mexican visa clearance within 24 hours to all non- US visa holding Indian visitors to her country. For US visa holding Indians, there is already provision for visa on arrival.

Ms Guevara was interacting with the leading lights of Mumbai's tourism and travel industry at a meeting organized by Indian Merchants Chamber on August 19. She was accompanied by Ambassador Jaime Nualart, Hon, Consul General Mr Rajju Shroff and Trade Commissioner Aldo Ruiz, and other officials of Mexico's Tourism Ministry.

The IMC President, Mr Dilip Dandekar, who introduced and felicitated the Minister, said Mexico, like India, was an ecologically diverse country having innumerable tourism destinations catering to a wide range of interests.

"It has vast deserts, nature reserves and rugged mountain ranges, not to mention picturesque towns full of life and color, and beautiful colonial cities, some of which have been declared world heritage sites," he said and pointed out "With 22 biosphere reserves, 47 national parks and nine protected areas, Mexico has a wide range of eco-tourism."

Ms Gvevara agreed with Mr Dandekar that many things such as the ecological, ethnic and cultural diversities, economic and social conditions, a rich historical heritages and legacies, in India and Mexico were all comparable. "Like India, Mexico However, being geographically located close to the US and Canada, Mexico was able to attract huge flow of tourists from those countries.

"Tourism has created about eight million jobs and contributed about 9% to Mexico's GDP. My Government aims at doubling the inflow of tourists into Mexico within the next two years. About 40 years ago, Mexico began constructing tourist infrastructures such as hotels, road transport and other facilities on the Pacific coast, all on an ecologically sustainable basis, which has stood in good stead for us over the years," she said.

She said her country was able to overcome the effects of the global economic crisis, which began in 2007-08. "After successfully weathering the storm, we were able to steeply increase the capacity of our hotels located in 56 of the 70 tourist destinations, consequent sharp increase in hotel occupancy," she said.

"The Maya culture in Mexico dates back thousands of years. The country has 63 ethnic groups, and also a large number of heritage sites -- both ancient and colonial. In respect of offering unique tourist experiences, Mexico is the world's second most preferred tourist destination," she asserted.

Ms Gloria Guevara said that Mexico would soon be celebrating its National Cultural Festival, and invited Indians to participate in it in a big way.

Ambassador Jaime Nualart said Indian business houses, hotel chains and others could also hope to reap huge profits by making large investment in tourist and industrial sectors in Mexico. Hon. Consul General Rajju Shroff pointed out that India and Mexico had signed a double-taxation avoidance treaty, and over the years, the treaty had hugely benefited both the countries. "Our bilateral trade has risen to over $2 billion, and had potential rise further," he added.

Mr Pradip Madhavji, Chairman of IMC's Travel & Tourism Committee, made an elaborate presentation on Indian tourists' special preferences to short duration holidays of about 7 to 10 days, 'soft adventures', vegetarian food, shopping, and their concerns over safety and security. "If you set up a tourist promotion office in Mumbai, it will go a long way in promoting tourists from India to Mexico," he suggested.