Legislators Threaten to Padlock SECTUR Budget

(Chilpancingo, ElSur 3 May) In an appearance before federal legislators in Guerrero, the president of the Mexico Tourism Promotion Council (CPTM), Rodolfo López Negrete, refused to answer question about how much money comes from the federal budget for the Tianguis Turístico, Acapulco’s annual tourism fair and convention. Gloria Guevara, the federal tourism secretary decided last month that the Tianguis would no longer be based in Acapulco, as it has been since its inception in 1976.

In response, the legislators threatened to lock down all federal appropriations for tourism promotion, which Mr. López Negrete’s office will seek for the 2011 edition of the fair. The secretary of the Tourism Committee of the federal congress, Fermín Alvarado Arroyo (Acapulco), responded that the 16 members of the committee will do everything to make the Tianguis Turístico remain in Acapulco. “Of course, we could accept President Calderon’s reduction of $800 million pesos in the national budget for tourism promotion. This year, Gloria Guevara has us to thank that we put that money back in. But we will approve no more resources for SECTUR if she does not accept that the Tianguis Turístico should remain in Acapulco,” he said. The legislator added, “We are going to review the budget for next year, to give them the same treatment that they gave to the people of Acapulco.”

Federal funds in support of the Tianguis Turístico are not earmarked, but rather come out of the general budget of the Mexico Tourism Promotion Council. Some of the money comes from immigration fees collected from tourists entering the country, and the other part comes from general revenues.