The Mexico Tourism Board is officially shutting down 95% of its global offices, including Canada by the end of this month. Only three will remain open – NYC, Berlin and Tokyo until at least March.

It’s a shock to many in the industry, especially when considering the country has received its fair share of bad publicity in the news the past year or so.

“Having representation in Canada is important as when bad news hits, we need to be ready to talk to the industry, to media and to our contacts about it,” said Cesar Mendoza - Regional Director, Canada, Mexico Tourism Board.

Mendoza says Mexico’s new Minister of Tourism who took power in September, has a background in the industry and knows the value and importance of promotional activities and how it impacts tourism.

The closures also include trade boards in Canada such as ProMexico and there are also rumours that someone at the Embassy or Consulate will be taking over tourism duties. We should be finding out more in the coming months. There is speculation that the three remaining offices will stay open in order to fulfil responsibilities for Mexico’s biggest tourism conference, Tianguis Turistico México, happening in March in Acapulco.

Mendoza is hoping to stay in Canada, where he’s raised his family, and is hoping that when one door closes, another opens.

“Personally, it’s sad for me to leave after 8 years. I’ve always been a proud promoter of my country and it’s sad to come to this point.”

He encourages people to reach out to him via email at cmendoza@visitmexico.com