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  With spring approaching one can only think of blooming flowers, birds chirping with the rise of the morning sun, and the dewy smell after a fresh rainfall. Yes, spring is finally here and the encapsulating sights, sounds and smell of spring give all of us that feeling that love is in the air. This is the time of year when thousands of couples will exchange vows and begin a fresh, new life together.

Nothing could ruin the most perfect day that has been months or even years in the making. Unless of course the perfect wedding destination you have planned has suddenly become less than perfect. Such is the case in one of the world’s most beautiful wedding destinations-Mexico. The H1N1 flu virus or “swine flu” if you prefer has ruined many brides perfect day. How could anyone expect family and loved ones to travel to the world’s new virus “hotspot” when the perfect day could turn into a family’s worst nightmare. 

In most cases, it would be impossible to travel to Mexico even if you wanted to. Many Cruise lines have canceled stops on the Mexican coast. Tour operators are taking tourists out of the country, and many airlines are waiving flight-change penalties. The United States and Europe issued travel warnings and 47 percent of U.S. companies have restricted trips to Mexico. Hotel occupancy rates in Mexico City are at record lows, between 5 and 7 percent, according to economic forecasters at IHS Global Insight. Tourism which represents 8% of Mexico’s gross domestic product (GDP) has been hit the hardest. In Mexico City alone, the mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, has put the figure at $88 million in losses per day.

So what is a budding bride to do on what should be the most important and special day of the year? Staying home for nuptials is not an option for many. Or is it? Mexico is not the only hotspot with beautiful beaches and adequate wedding facilities.  Recently, Pop star, Seal and his wife Heidi Klum have scrapped their wedding renewal plans in Mexico because of the swine flu pandemic. A spokesperson for Klum confirmed, “Heidi and Seal have decided to renew their vows at home in L.A. this year.”

California has always been considered one of the most beautiful destinations this time of year. The beaches are fantastic, and there are many amenities that can make your special day a winner with family and friends. Last minute weddings can be extremely stressful, which the last thing any bride or groom to be needs. California has the most wedding and event rental companies in the United States. Their expertise can definitely help in planning a last minute wedding. An excellent resource to help you in choosing which rental companies to work with is the largest rental search engine in North America- http://www.rentcharlie.com .

Searching for wedding rentals with www.rentcharlie.com can provide not only a local rental companies contact information but also a list of their rental products, prices, and pictures. This way you can make an informed decision on which rental companies you can trust with your special day. It may not be the Riviera Maya but California is a decent substitute. Local rental businesses will thank you, www.rentcharlie.com can help and you can have one of the most important elements at your wedding-peace of mind.

No one is too old nor too young to enjoy a Mexico vacation.  Mexico vacations are ideal for solo travelers, honeymooners, married couples, and families.  While the world is full of romantic destinations, Mexico has much to recommend it as the place where you and your special someone should spend your next vacation.

Mexico’s romantic escapes have much to offer.  Their visitors can bask in the warm, balmy, tropical climate at almost any time of year.  The weather is what makes Mexico vacations and ideal choice for those seeking to escape the cold northern winters, and her brilliant vegetation, sparkling white beaches, and turquoise seas create the perfect backdrop for a romantic interlude.

One of the most delightful aspects of a romantic Mexican getaway is that her seaside resorts, unlike many US hotels which are not directly on the beach, allow their guests direct beach access.  A stay at Zihuatenejo, for example, lets Mexican beachgoers experience the best in resort luxury combined with the serenity of a secluded beach village.  Nestled against the backdrop of the Sierra Madre, this small town on the Pacific Ocean offers a full slate of water sports, including scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, and cruises to more remote beaches.

Traveling as a family in Mexico need not eliminate the romance from Mexico vacations.  Children are considered a national treasure in Mexico, and your children will be greeted warmly wherever they go.  Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and La Paz are all great Mexican vacation destinations for families.  Your children will need to carry adequate documentation, and you can learn exactly what is required by visiting the US Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov and clicking on International Travel.

When selecting a destination for your romantic Mexican getaway, look for an area where you can enjoy your favorite activities.  The coastal resorts abound in opportunities for Island cruising, scuba diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, and even cliff diving for the very brave.  You can swim with the dolphins at Chakalal Bay, or for $20 enjoy an all day horseback ride to the crater of the Paricutin Volcano, where you will have to make the final 1 1/2 mile journey on foot.

If you want a permanent memento of your romantic stay in Mexico, visit Queretaro and shop for one of the locally mined opals.  Along with southern Australia, Queretaro is one of the two places in the world where opals are commercially mined.  Visit El Artesano, a small shop whose owner hand-carves miniatures of opal. 

While you are in Queretaro, soak up its romantic atmosphere with a stroll around the historic center.  If you are staying there on a Sunday night, visit the Jardin Zenea, Queretaro’s most popular public square, where you and your sweetie can join the crowds dancing to band music from the 40s, 50s, and 60s.

Whether you choose to enjoy a romantic getaway at a Mexico beach or you choose another location, you are sure to enjoy your trip.  With all that it has to offer, Mexico can easily be considered a lovers paradise.  

Imagine your family opening up a present to reveal that you all will be leaving tomorrow to go on a vacation in Mexico. Your family will not only be surprised and overwhelmed but they will be forming images in their minds of the amazing time they will have as a family. The gift of a vacation in Mexico is sure to make anyone’s holiday. Mexico timeshare sales are the perfect way to go about making your family’s dreams come true. A vacation in Mexico will provide your family with the medium to spend quality time with one another in a luxurious destination. Mexico is the ultimate destination for excitement, fun, and adventure as well as relaxation, leisure, and rest. Whether you are into relaxing on the beach all day with a margarita in your hand, or horseback riding through waterfalls, Mexico is the place to do it. Mexico timeshare sales can provide you and your family with a yearly vacation that is sure to entertain all. The gift of destination can be the perfect holiday gift that will not only bring your family together but it will also give everyone a new lease on life. You and your spouse can be refreshed and energized for a new year at work, and your kids will be ready to take on another semester at school. Whatever the case may be, Mexico timeshare sales can be the answer you are looking for to gaining that quality time with your family.

Mexico timeshare sales are now available online which makes it the most efficient way of booking a vacation. No longer do you have to wait on your travel agency to find you deal that they might think you will like. Now that Mexico timeshare sales are online, you will be able to browse through thousands of listings online from the comforts of your own home or office. You can tailor your search to your exact specifications so that you will be sure to find Mexico timeshare sales that you like. Once you have found a couple that you like you can contact the seller directly via e-mail so that you are sure you are getting the right information. Mexico timeshare sales allow you to break from the mold of hotels and have a yearly vacation set that is tailored to your exact needs and wants. This way you will not have to worry or stress about booking and planning a yearly vacation. This time of year is a great time to take your loved ones on a vacation that they will be sure to remember for years to come. Your family will be able to get away from the cold and bask in the warm sun and glistening beaches. Mexico timeshare sales will enable you to have a yearly vacation for you and your family to look forward to every year. Don’t let these amazing deals pass you by this holiday season and inquire about Mexico timeshare rentals today.

Exceeding US$11.6 billion, private investment in Mexico’s tourism sector has already surpassed federal goals for the 2001 to 2006 period by 29 percent, reports Sectur in its latest comprehensive study on the subject. Domestic and foreign private investment reached the original US$9 billion goal in June 2005, after increasing at least 12 percent annually since 2002.

The report also shows that interest in Mexico’s famous beaches remains high, with the sun and beach segment outpacing all other tourism products by garnering 48 percent of private investment. Three coastal states also ranked in the top three in amount of private investment received: Guerrero State (US$2.63 billion), Quintana Roo State (US$2.47 billion) and Nayarit State (US$92.5 million) captured almost 52 percent of the total amount invested between 2001 and 2006.

Approximately 89 percent of private investment in Guerrero went to tried-and-true beach resort Acapulco on the Pacific Ocean, whereas 82 percent of the private investment Quintana Roo received was channeled to the Mexican Caribbean hot spots Cancun and Riviera Maya. More than 60 percent of Nayarit’s private investment went to the Pacific resort town of Nuevo Vallarta.

Rounding out the top Mexican five states receiving the highest amount of public investment are border states of Baja California (US$86.3 million) and Sonora (US$78.4 million). Together, the states on the U.S./Mexico border, which also include Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas, received 19 percent of private investment in Mexico, ranking the region second overall.

Among the northern region’s major tourism attractions are Copper Canyon in Chihuahua; the La Quemada archaeological sites in Zacatecas; the bustling city of Monterrey in Nuevo Leon and 200,000-acre Cuatro Cienegas Valley in Coahuila. International sources account for 25 percent of all private investment, with the United States as the top foreign investor in Mexico’s tourism infrastructure.

Mexico has long been taking strategic steps to stimulate tourism and attract private investors through its National Trust Fund for Tourism Development, Fonatur. This government agency is responsible for conceiving, planning and building five sea-side tourism destinations – Cancun, Los Cabos, Ixtapa, Loreto and the Bays of Huatulco – since its 1974 inception.

These resorts areas generate 54 percent of foreign revenue entering the country from tourism and benefit from a master plan, urban-resort planning mechanisms, and annual construction programs and enforcement.

Because fomenting international tourism is a national priority for Mexico, the country’s regulatory framework legally protects foreign investors. Mexico allows foreign investors to have ownership in the majority of economic fields and activities, including real estate, allowing 100 percent participation in shared capital. Investors are also offered a profitability guarantee and investment security through Fonatur.

In addition to the ease of investing in Mexico, investors are also attracted by the security of investing in a proven destination: Mexico is the world’s seventh most-visited country and ranks 12th in terms of foreign revenue earnings from tourism; in both categories, it is the leader in Latin America.

Fonatur’s efforts have been recognized by industry organizations such as the Live in Spain association, which honored the agency with its development and promotion of residential tourism award during the 2006 edition of the Madrid Real Estate Exhibition.

About Fonatur

Created in 1974, Mexico’s National Trust Fund for Tourism Development (Fonatur) is the premier developer of integrally-planned tourism destinations in Mexico and has created such world-class resort areas as Cancun, Ixtapa, Loreto, Los Cabos and more recently, Huatulco. To diversify the nation’s tourism industry and give it a more competitive edge, Fonatur builds and promotes new tourist resorts that meet market demand and at the same time spur social change in different parts of the country. Fonatur often serves a joint venture partner for private investors who want to benefit from participation in Mexico’s high-quality tourism development programs. For more information on Fonatur, visit www.fonatur.gob.mx.

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.

FOR PRESS ONLY: For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the MTB’s North American Press Room directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at northamericanpress@visitmexico.com, or visit our press Web site at www.visitmexicopress.com. To access an online warehouse of free, downloadable b-roll, visit www.thenewsmarket.com/visitmexicopress.

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Erick Laseca

Mexico Tourism Board

312-228-0517 x14

erick.laseca@bm.com