Visitors with an interest in green tourism can find out about Hotel Xcaret, which is currently under construction in Mexico and which will be the first hotel to have an EarthCheck certification for its planning and design when it opens next year. The 900-room all-suite luxury ocean-front resort is due to open in December 2017 in the Maya Riviera, the first accommodation made from start to finish by the consortium Grupo Experiencias Xcaret, which prides itself on its commitment to sustainability, social responsibility and innovation.

Designed to encourage the promotion of Mexico’s tourism products and services and increase the flow of visitors from domestic and international markets, Tianguis Turístico is the largest hospitality event in the country. Here Eleanor Hawkins reports for Breaking Travel News from the show and discovers a feeling of optimism surrounding the ever growing sector.

The governments of Mexico and Brazil have agreed to the exemption of the short-stay visas in ordinary passports for their citizens. The move is designed to increase the flow of travellers between the two nations.

Mexico Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara Manzo said that the National Agreement on Tourism has achieved progress of 85 percent towards the actions committed to by the federal government.

ASTA and NTA are pleased to announce that the Mexico Tourism Board has signed on to sponsor the Hispanics in Travel Caucus’ Café con Leche and a panel discussion, “25 Reasons Why Hispanics Are Important in Growing Your Travel Business,” both held in conjunction with ASTA’s Travel Retailing and Destination Expo.

As it battles back from a series of catastrophes – including the swine flu epidemic of 2009, collapse of national carrier Mexicana and global economic downturn – Mexico continues to struggle with its violent image. But visiting Mexico City, Breaking Travel News here finds there are two sides to every story.