When the Mexico Tourism Board threw its hat in the ring as an Official Tourism Partner for the 2016 ATP Champions Tennis held at London's Royal Albert Hall from Nov. 30-Dec. 4, the announcement did more than simply show support for the sport.
A perennial favorite for its high-end golf destinations that have hosted numerous PGA tournaments, Mexico served notice that it is broadening its sports focus with ATP World Tour Tennis events as well. When you toss in its recent NFL game in Mexico City that pitted the Oakland Raiders against the Houston Texans, plus competitions on the World Triathlon Series, IRONMAN Series and Formula 1 Racing, not to mention the World Championship Tour qualifier Los Cabos Open of Surf, it's obvious that Mexico is positioning itself to play with the "big boys."
It just makes sense that the Mexico Tourism Board would flex its muscle in this fashion. The United Kingdom is Mexico's third largest tourism market, with 2015's tally of more than 475,000 visitors from the UK chalking up a 10.4 percent increase on 2014 numbers.
No doubt this growth was sparked by 2015's "Dual Year" where Mexico's and UK's governments collaborated to celebrate the "Year of Mexico in the United Kingdom" and the "Year of the United Kingdom in Mexico."
Adding further fuel was the 2015 release of Spectre, the 24th installment in the James Bond film series. One of the most expensive ever made, the Bond thriller was shot
with locations in Austria, the UK, Italy, Morocco and Mexico. Shot in March 2015 in Mexico City, the $245 million production's opening sequence features a Day of the Dead festival highlighting areas in and around the Zocalo and Centro Historico district.
Depending on the season, some 120-199 direct flights arrive monthly from the UK to Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Mexico City on carriers that including Virgin Atlantic and Aeromexico.
Naturally, Mexico is also growing from visitors on holiday from additional markets
beyond the UK. In fact, World Tourism Organization numbers reflect that the country's overall tourism industry is rising faster than the global average. While the latter grew at 4 percent as of June 2016, Mexico increased at an impressive 8.4 percent.
Mexico's Tennis Rally
Aside from its ATP Champions Tennis support, Mexico hosts three international tennis tournaments throughout the year. Slated for Acapulco from Feb. 27-March 4, 2017, the Mexican Open is expected to host such court superstars as Spain's Rafael Nadal and Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro. The WTA's Monterrey Open will be held from April 3, while the ATP's Los Cabos Open will begin on July 31.
Tennis addicts are well served at a bevy of Mexico's beach destination resorts. Among the top picks are:
Among this impressive list, the latter features five hard-surface courts and five sand-filled synthetic grass courts nestled in a scenic grove of palm trees. Elevating appeal are clinics, plus private and semi-private lessons conducted by certified professionals from the world-renowned Peter Burwash International (PBI) tennis program. Other options include cardio tennis, player matching, and social and competitive tournaments.
As a vote of confidence, PBI's highly trained professionals are now directing tennis programs in more than 25 countries at 60 upscale resorts and clubs throughout the world - including this stellar facility in the Riviera Nayarit.
For travelers preferring to pack light, gear such as racquets, shoes and balls are available at the pro shop.
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