Mexico tourism plan rides on success of Maya Train

Significance

The news follows years of healthy growth in the sector and comes as the government launches a new tourism plan. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) announced the National Tourism Strategy 2019-24 in Chetumal on February 24, highlighting the government’s intention to use the sector as a vehicle for regional development, job creation, social inclusion and equality. Within this framework, the construction of a ‘Maya Train’ in the relatively poor south of the country will be the sector’s priority.

Impacts

• The lack of a formal environmental impact assessment for the Maya Train puts the environment, and its long-term tourism potential, at risk.
• Business’s mistrust of AMLO, and the potential downgrading of Mexico’s sovereign ratings, threaten infrastructure investment hopes.
• SECTUR’s move to Quintana Roo feeds into the government’s decentralisation rhetoric but will not necessarily help boost sectoral growth.
• Plans to incentivise domestic travel by the poor may increase tourism numbers and quality of life but will bring few economic benefits.