Cashing in on conventions: niche tourism market continues to expand as Mexico sells itself as meeting spot.

Despite the slowdown in tourism over the past three years, business tourism--strengthened by an increase in international trade activities--is growing, buffeting the sector at large.

Over 7,000 conventions are held nationwide each year, and almost 1.2 million businesspeople traveled to Mexico for business purposes in 2002, up from some 900,000 in 1999, according to government agency DataTur.

The constant increase of people travelling for business purposes, led the government to take an important step and introduce the "0% tax rate" for congresses and conventions, fairs and exhibitions and film industry from abroad. This new law went into effect in January, which should help make 2004 a positive year in the business tourism sector.

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In another move to promote Mexico's convention options, the government opened the new Congresses and Conventions Office (OCC) in Mexico City, which will work in conjunction with the Tourism Promotion Council of Mexico. It is a specialized office that will act as a liaison between convention organizers around the world and prominent business destinations around the country. It also will promote Mexico as a leading option for congresses, corporate conventions, incentive trips and exhibitions, according to Eduardo Chaillo, executive director of the OCC.

Despite the negatives attached to Mexico, namely issues involving security, urban infrastructure and public services, leading tourism officials are confident that the range of world-class convention destinations--from traditional favorites Acapulco and Cancun to industrial centers of the north--will continue to attract international-minded businesspeople.

Edgar Del Castillo is a business resource analysis at AMCHAM.

CITY              TOP CONVENTION CENTERS

Aguascalientes    Centro de Convenciones San Marcos
Campeche          Centro de Convenciones XXI
Mexico City       Centro Banamex
Mexico City       Centro de Negocios y Comercio de la Cd. de Mexico
Mexico City       Expo Mexico Santa Fe
Mexico City       International Conference Center (ICC)
Mexico City       Palacio de los Deportes
Mexico City       World Trade Center
Torreon           Centro de Convenciones Torreon
Tuxtla Gutierrez  Centro de Convenciones Poliforum
Chihuahua         Expo Chihuahua
Toluca            Cemeexpo Toluca
Toluca            Centro Mexiquense de Exposiciones
Guadalajara       Expo Guadalajara
Guanajuato        Centro de Convenciones y Exposiciones Guanajuato
Leon              Poliforum Leon
Moroleon          Centro de Exposiciones de Moroleon
Acapulco          Centro Cultural y de Convenciones de Acapulco
Merida            Centro de Convenciones y Exposiciones Yucatan Siglo
                    XXI
Morelia           Ceconexpo Centro de Convenciones y Exposiciones
Monterrey         Cintermex Centro Internacional de. Negocios de
                    Monterrey
Oaxaca            Centro de Convenciones Oaxaca
Puebla            Centro de Convenciones William O. Jenkins
Puebla            Expo Puebla
El Marques        Ecocentro Expositor
Juriquilla        Expocentro Juriquilla
Cancun            Centro de Convenciones Cancun
Villahermosa      Centro de Convenciones 2000
Boca del Rio      World Trade Center
Zacatecas         Centro de Ferias y Exposiciones