MEXICO CITY, Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mexico Ministry of Tourism acknowledged the joint work of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of the Interior and of their counterparts in Colombia in Peru towards the lifting of visa regulations between the countries of the Pacific Alliance, as a measure towards strengthening the international competitiveness of Mexico's tourism industry.

The Pacific Alliance is an integration mechanism with the participation of Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, whose objective is advancing the free movement of goods, services, capital and people.

Mexico Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara Manzo said that this decision will increase the number of international travelers between countries of the region.

She noted that through such actions, Mexico strengthens its ties with Latin America, and particularly with the countries of the Pacific Alliance.

The measure will strengthen Mexico's international competitiveness in the tourism sector, in accordance with the strategies of the administration of President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa towards consolidating tourism as a national priority for economic development in Mexico.

The Integrated System for Migration Operations (SIOM) indicates that in the first nine months of 2012, the number of visitors from Colombia, Chile and Peru that arrived to Mexico increase by 25.4 percent, 14.3 percent and 28 percent, respectively, compared to the same period the prior year.

In the framework of the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Pacific Alliance, which took place in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that from November 9, the visa requirement has been lifted for nationals of Colombia and Peru to visit Mexico, with a stay not to exceed 180 days and during which the visitor is not engaged in remunerated activity.

In the case of Mexico and Chile, both nations have an agreement in place towards lifting visa restrictions, to which Colombia and Peru will be added moving forward.

The announcement complies with the agreements contained in the Declaration of Paranal, signed by the Heads of State of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, signed June 6, which instructed that the competent authorities design a mechanism of cooperation and exchange of information to facilitate the flow of people between the members of the Pacific Alliance.

For more information, please contact:

Jennifer Risi
Ogilvy Public Relations
Jennifer.Risi@ogilvy.com or +1-646-240-6297

SOURCE Mexico Tourism Board