Tianguis Opens With A Splash

Mexico president Enrique Pena Nieto led an elaborate opening of the Tianguis Turistico Mexico 2016 on Monday (April 25, 2016) at the Expo Guadalajara in the city of Guadalajara, reports Press Today’s Ted Davis from the show.

President Nieto presided over ceremonies that included energetic dance routines and presentations by Mexico government officials extolling the strength of Mexico’s tourism sector.

At one point, the stage was also occupied by a group of indigenous children that had been hosted on a trip through the country, as part of a push to encourage more domestic travel.

But the president delivered the most powerful message, saying that Mexico was amongst the top 10 countries in the world in terms of international arrivals.

He said that arrivals had ballooned from 23 million in 2012 to 32 million in 2015 – a jump of 37%. That includes 10 million from the US.

The 2016 edition of Tianguis Turistico has a tough act to follow, coming after the 2015 Tianguis in Acapulco.

There, some 1,100 buyers from 64 countries attended. This year’s show is off to a good start, with buyers from 14 first-time countries to Tianguis adding to the total in attendance.

Photo:
Mexico president Enrique Pena Nieto poses for a photo while moving through an enthusiastic crowd at the Tianguis Turistico Mexico opening gala in Guadalajara.