MK Lam, Owner, JBC Travel; Sergio Alvarez Menendez, Under-Secretary - Tourist Promotion for Guerrero & Cesar Mendoza, Director - Western Canada, Mexico Tourism Board
Myrna Bubica, General Manager, Mexi-Can Holidays; Piquis Rochin, International Promotion Director, Acapulco Destination Marketing Office & Marian Lam, General Manager, JBC Travel
MTB's Cesar Mendoza sharing a laugh with Ana Guillermina Camarena Sahagun, Promotion Manager for Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo's Convention & Visitors Bureau & Soraida Espino, Sales Manager, Las Brisas Hotel Collection
The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB) is trying to get more Asian-Canadians to visit their country.
Over dinner at the Shiang Garden Seafood Restaurant in Richmond, co-hosts, the MTB and B.C. based tour operators JBC Travel and Mexi-Can Holidays, took the opportunity to introduce local agents and the business community to Mexico’s Triangulo Del Sol (The Sun Triangle). Situated in the south west, The Sun Triangle comprises seaside destinations Acapulco and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo as well as colonial town Taxco which is famous for its silver.
Why focus on the Asian-Canadian community? “The Chinese-Canadian market is quite different from the usual travellers we receive from Canada,” said Cesar Mendoza, MTB's Director - Western Canada. "They’re not content to just sit on the beach to have margaritas. They like to explore the destination, shop and find places to go for good food even though they may be staying at an all-inclusive property. Plus, they tend to spend more money.”
In a joint partnership, JBC Travel and Mexi-Can Holidays are offering itineraries throughout Mexico including several that cover The Sun Triangle destinations. Its new “Silver Route” includes Mexico City (since the direct flight from YVR lands there), Taxco and Acapulco. According to Myrna Bubica, Mexi-Can’s General Manager, Acapulco played an important role in history for the Chinese as their entry point into the Americas.
JBC’s General Manager Marian Lam added that when necessary, tours feature Mandarin speaking guides. "That is a big plus," echoed many agents including Belinda Yuen, General Manager, X.O. Tours Canada, who said that language was one of the main reasons why clients avoided travelling there. Yuen expressed keen interest to promote Mexico to her clients.
In between the 10 course Chinese dinner, DMOs and hoteliers highlighted the various destinations and properties. In Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, conservation efforts are in place to increase the sea turtle population including Olive Ridleys, leatherbacks and hawksbills. Visitors can participate in a turtle release program at a number of hotels. Jumbo Holiday’s Manager, Shirley Au, found the event very educational and said she would use the information gleaned to tailor to her client’s needs.
Not surprisingly, the majority of the 130 guests at this event were Chinese. Also in attendance was Sergio Alvarez Menendez, the State of Guerrero’s Under-Secretary for Tourist Promotion who flew in especially for the occasion. During the lucky draw segment, several agents won prizes featuring hotel stays and travel gift bags.
