Convention Review Tourism, Development Driver for Mexico Opening Ceremony of Expo AMDETUR 2008. Left to right: 1. Mauricio Limon, Vice-Minister of Management for Environmental Protection, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. 2. Miguel Gomez Mont, CEO National Trust Fund for the Development of Tourism. 3. Jose Carlos Azcarraga, Chairman AMDETUR. 4. Rodolfo Elizondo, Minister of Tourism. 5. Ernesto Coppel, Chairman National Council of Tourist Businesses. AMDETUR (Mexican Resort Development Association), held its XXII Annual Convention in Mexico City last June 18th, 19th and 20th, under the title "Tourism, Development Driver for Mexico". The opening ceremony was lead by the Minister of Tourism, Rodolfo Elizondo, who emphasized how Mexico has been consolidated as an attractive country to invest in, which the Ministry of Tourism Investment Projects National Census Office figures confirm, having registered an accumulated tourism investment in the past 16 months of 6.267 billion dollars. This event, positioned as one of the most important forums of the vacation ownership and tourism industry in Mexico, gathered prestigious speakers and panelists with deep knowledge on this industry, who shared information 46 Perspective Magazine July 2008 We are the most dynamic sector within our country's economy, with an 80% growth rate in the last five years. and discussed the achievements and the challenges yet to face, and the way to continue to structure the channels of growth of this important and dynamic industry. Among the participants were Miguel Gomez Mont, CEO for the National Trust Fund for the Development of Tourism (FONATUR), who was a panelist in the "Effective Strategies to Drive Tourism in Mexico" panel, where relevant themes were discussed such as the proposed reforms to the Tourism General Law, the tourism destinations infrastructure services needed, and about tax facilities to promote tourism investment. Oscar Fitch, CEO for the Tourist Promotion Council of Mexico, addressed the delegates and he informed them about his organization's achievements and all the different tourism promotion campaigns it performs, as well as the efforts in publicity, contributions and cooperative programs with destinations entities in different countries. This organization has grown to have 18 offices internationally to promote Mexico. Other prestigious speakers were Carlos Vogeler, President of Affiliated Members for the World Tourism Organization, who said tourism represents 12% of the international consumer spending, 10.3% of the world gross domestic product (GPD), and 234 million jobs (1 in 12 jobs, 8.2% of total world employment). Howard Nusbaum, President for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), explained that the sales of traditional timeshare inventory in the United States topped $10.6 US billion in 2007. This represents a 6% increase over