Mexico eyes profit in Cuba

Wednesday, 24 December 2014 00:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

thenews.com.mx

Mexico eyes profit in Cuba

Mexican companies poised for gains after opening

BY NACHA CATTAN

Bloomberg News

MEXICO CITY – U.S. cruise lines and hoteliers aren’t the only potential beneficiaries from a thaw in relations with Cuba. Onboard sodas and materials to build resorts could come from Mexican providers.

Coca-Cola Femsa and Cemex are among the Mexican companies poised to capture a slice of the expansion of the Cuba market, according to ING Groep. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund says that after the U.S., Mexico has the most businesses that would get a boost from the end of the Cold War freeze.

“Cuba is next door,” Eric Conrads, an ING money manager based in New York, said in a telephone interview. “It’s a natural market. The Cuba Libre cocktail uses Coke. And the libre represents freedom, so it’s an interesting mix.”

Cuba’s possible transition into desirable Caribbean destination from pariah status under the 1960 U.S. trade embargo was set in motion last week when President Barack Obama moved to restore diplomatic ties. Even with the embargo still in effect, Obama’s moves would make it easier for companies to export construction, telecommunications and farm products.

A well-developed Latin American distribution chain puts Coca-Cola Femsa, the biggest franchised Coke bottler, in better position to take advantage of an eventual opening to Cuba than Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, said Ryan Paylor, a Herzfeld fund senior trader.

Coca-Cola Femsa is set up “to easily make the transition,” Paylor said in a telephone interview from Miami. As for Monterrey-based Cemex, Cuba’s decades-long lack of capital investment could be a boost for the cement producer if U.S. spending triggers a construction boom, Paylor said.

“The infrastructure of Cuba is pretty dilapidated since the embargo went into place,” Paylor said.

Consumer goods and building supplies have been an early focus as investors search for possible winners under a U.S.-Cuba rapprochement, in part because of the potential of the island nation of 11 million to flourish again as a tourist venue. According to a Nov. 24 Securities and Exchange Commission filing, the Herzfeld fund’s major stakes also include Carlos Slim’s America Movil, Wal-Mart de Mexico and the soft- drink company and convenience-store operator Fomento Economico Mexicano, which controls Coca-Cola Femsa. Fifty percent of the holdings of the fund, which bets on an easing of U.S.-Cuba ties, were in U.S. companies as of June 30, based on data compiled by Bloomberg, followed by 22 percent in Mexico and 11 percent in Panama.

Coca-Cola Femsa accounted for 6.6 percent of the fund’s assets, the No. 2 stake after Panamanian airline Copa Holdings, the data show. Paylor said Cemex accounted for about 2 percent of the Herzfeld fund.

Cemex says it would be interested in Cuba if U.S. restrictions are lifted.

“We’re definitely the biggest cement producer and trader in the Caribbean,” said Maher Al-Haffar, Cemex’s vice president of investor relations. “To the extent that Cuba becomes a bona fide market for our products, of course we’re going to be doing our best to participate in that growth.”

America Movil could stand to benefit from the Cuban public’s lack of mobile phones, said Jose Otero, director of Latin America and the Caribbean for trade group 4G Americas.

“In telecoms, the low penetration level in all types of services makes it one of the most attractive places to invest,” Otero said in a telephone interview. “In terms of population, it’s equivalent to a Chile, for example.”

America Movil, Cemex and Coca-Cola Femsa have rallied at least 5 percent since Obama’s announcement, part of a 6.6 percent advance for Mexico’s benchmark IPC Index. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund soared 81 percent in the same period, to $12.34, and was valued at $68.7 million.

Cuba the Next Cancun? It Should Be So Lucky

nytimes.com
Josh Barro

One of the stranger reactions to the news of normalized relations with Cuba has come from several commentators who fret that Cuba will lose its authenticity under capitalist influence. As Jeremy Scahill of The Intercept put it: “I’m glad I got to visit several times before US tourists try to turn it into Cancun.”

This fear — that Cuba will be spoiled by vulgar American capitalism — is pretty insulting to Cubans, who ought to be able to decide for themselves where to spend their money. But while many commenters focused on Starbucks or McDonald’s, Mr. Scahill’s formulation about Cancun was especially inapt.

That’s because Cancun isn’t a symbol of free market capitalism, and American tourists didn’t make the place what it is today. An arm of the Mexican central bank did, in perhaps the largest and most successful example of central economic planning in North American history. Cuba should be so lucky as to have made its planned economy work as well as Cancun’s.

In the late 1960s, Cancun Island was essentially vacant. Its development as a tourism megaresort was conceived by bureaucrats at the Fund for the Promotion of Tourism Infrastructure (“Infratur”), part of the Banco de Mexico. In 1972, Robert Dunphy of The New York Times interviewed Antonio Enriquez Savignac, the head of Infratur, about the process that led to the Cancun megaproject:

“We knew exactly what we wanted to build — a resort that would attract a massive flow of tourists from the United States,” Enriquez said. “But before we could obtain the go-ahead, we had to convince the government that tourism was the fastest-growing, most dynamic sector of economic growth in the world.

“As bankers, we approached this from a banker’s point of view, taking everything measurable into account, feeding it into a computer and leaving nothing to chance.” ...

Infratur had the bank’s computers so tied up with tourism statistics that the Enriquez team finally had to link up on a full-time lease basis with one across the border in California. But even so, with all the statistics flowing into the machines, the nitty-gritty work remained to be done.

What the planners did next was to peel off their pinstriped bankers’ suits, turn off the computers and head into the boondocks to check out those areas in Mexico which, according to the printouts, had all the necessary ingredients. The thing to do now was to personally check the swimming, the beaches, the actual living conditions at various places along Mexico’s 6,000 miles of coastline and compare each site with the data that the computers had produced ...

Enriquez said, “We finally narrowed the choice down to 25 sites and then gave preference to those areas where people were extremely poor — as long as all the other attributes were present, a labor supply, for example. The Yucatán Peninsula and Cancun Island proved to be ideal in this regard. There is great poverty and no industry — since sisal has been replaced by plastics — and yet the area has all the ingredients to attract tourism: sun, sea, and good weather the year round, plus easy access to some of the world’s greatest archaeological treasures, the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza and Tulum, for example.”

Photo

On the beach in Cancun in 2013. The resort area was developed decades ago by an arm of the Mexican central bank. CreditAlonso Cupul/European Pressphoto Agency

After Infratur made its choice, the Mexican government bought all the land on Cancun Island. It built an airport and a golf course with help from a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank. It built government-owned hotels and financed private ones at preferential interest rates, years before the resort was established enough to attract unsubsidized capital. It constructed a brand-new city to house workers.

The Cancun development was a success, attracting millions of visitors each year and generating enough economic activity to support a city of 600,000. Cancun’s 32,000 hotel rooms are now privately owned. But the economic initiative and investment capital behind the resort initially came from the public sector. If you want to visit a planned economy on vacation, you don’t need access to Cuba; you can just fly to Cancun.

Mexico, Israel Sign 'Research & Development' Agreement

Ari Yashar - IsraelNationalNews.com
go to original
December 10, 2014

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talk at the 2014 World Economic Forum. The two nations have signed a industrial research and development agreement.

 Israel and Mexico sealed an industrial research and development (R&D) agreement over the weekend, putting the two nations in position to further advance their bilateral ties on a variety of joint projects.

The agreement, which was signed by Israeli Ambassador to Mexico Rodica Radian Gordon, will see the Office of the Chief Scientist at the Israeli Ministry of Economy (OCS,) and its Mexican counterpart, the National Council of Science and Technology, arrange funding for Israeli and Mexican companies engaging in joint R&D projects.

"We are delighted with Mexico’s vote of confidence in Israel’s economy, industry, and innovation, which have long been global brands," said the head of OCS, Avi Hasson.

"Cooperation agreements such as the one signed with Mexico, contribute to the Israeli market by creating new jobs, advancing research and development, technological enterprise, and more," Hasson added.

Primary among the fields of cooperation will be water management, desert agriculture, pharma and medical devices, electronics, and communication, although all types of technological cooperation are covered by the framework of the agreement.

The agreement with Mexico comes after Israel in July became the first country with which Japan signed an Industrial R&D Collaboration Agreement, amid part of a growing push to solidify Japanese ties.

On the heels of the new agreement, a call will be issued early next year to companies in Israel and Mexico to present joint proposals for funding on R&D projects.

"Mexico is one of the world's largest manufacturers in a variety of fields, comprising an essential part of the country's economy," said Rona Kotler Ben Aroya, Trade Attaché to Mexico from the Israeli Ministry of Economy. "Many of its products are intended for the North American market."

"In an effort to preserve its global competitiveness, the Mexican government has set a goal of advancing research and development...the signing of the industrial R&D agreement between Israel and Mexico will help Israeli companies integrate products and advanced technologies with local manufacturers and realize the potential of this market," said Aroya.

"The new agreement with Mexico will also pave the way for Israel to advance similar agreements and ties with other Latin American countries including Brazil, Chile, and Colombia," he added.

Original Story

Carlos Slim: México Could Become a Developed Nation

by Murry Page

28 Oct 14  

mazmessenger.com

 

Speaking at the 12^th México Business Summit México’s billionaire Carlos Slim said México has a tremendous opportunity to join the most developed countries in a few years.

Carlos Slim said México can enter “through the front door” to greater than a 5% annual growth, but “if there is something to ask the government to accelerate this it is to have a sense of urgency and to open all those investment projects that have been closed to private investment and act as quickly as possible.”

For this to occur the honorary chairman of companies like American Movil said the country must focus on investment and education.

Investment in telecommunication, electricity and the oil and gas sector is needed, he noted. Another area that requires investment is the country’s infrastructure, the billionaire stated.

The second area upon which the government must focus is education he said. “We need all of our people educated so they can have higher incomes.” Carlos Slim added, “The best investment is to fight poverty.”

 (from CNN  Expansión)

Students develop new tech devices

Students at iLab Veracruz.IWAY MAGAZINE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico News Daily | Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Three groups of young researchers working in Veracruz have developed low-cost technological devices that could save lives.

A bracelet that monitors a baby’s vital signs, a wristband that measures solar exposure and a seatbelt sensor that alerts a driver who nods off are the three devices created by 13 talented students under 25 at the iLab Veracruz.

he B-Heart bracelet measures temperature, blood-oxygen levels and heart rate, and if there’s any variation in those indicators it sends one of two alerts in the form of an SMS message, one that indicates a slight variation and the other, an emergency situation.

The students who developed the device, who are looking for financing to manufacture it, estimate they can sell the bracelet for about 2,500 pesos, or US $185.

The SunnyGo, meanwhile, monitors UV rays when you’re sunbathing and emits an alert when it’s time to find some shade. It will cost between 650 and 1,000 pesos, or $48 to $75, say its designers.

The CareBelt is a seatbelt sleeve that contains sensors that alert a driver by emitting a sound and vibrating if he’s about to fall asleep. Not only that, but should the driver suffer a heart attack, fainting spell or epileptic fit the device will interact with a vehicle that has an integrated computer system, reducing its speed, flashing its lights and sounding the horn. In conjunction with a mobile app, it can notify emergency services or family members in real time.

Its price will run about 2,500 pesos.

These are among several projects on the go at the iLab, an innovation center for information and communication technologies at Veracruz University in Xalapa. It currently involves 189 participants and 25 supported projects, and has 13 projects in the process of being patented.

Source: EFE (en)

- See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/students-develop-new-tech-devices/#sthash.aeTjoFrw.dpuf

Stone Island Project Back on Track

by Murry Page

6 Aug 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

Following a closed door meeting yesterday attended by Mazatlán Mayor, Carlos Felton, other city officials, the governors of the states of Nayarit, Durango and Sinaloa, and representatives of the multi-use project started several years ago on La Isla de la Piedra (Stone Island) called Isla Amaitlán, the mayor said that construction of 38 bungalows and two hotels would be later this month.

The mayor said that although the project had been stymied for the past three years, it is back on track, noting that the first phase of the project, the botanical gardens, is completed and open to visitors.

He said, “It is amazing what has been done there. I do not know why it (the project) was detained for several years, but now everything is ready to move forward. It will provide new and better attractions for Mazatlán.”

The Isla Amaitlán project is situated on 2,500 hectares (6,177 acres), 60 percent of which will be green areas. The designer of the project, Brazilian architect Jamie Lerner, says it will be the first ecotourism city in the world.

(from El Debate)

Investment Bonanza in Private and Public Works

by Maureen Dietrich

19 Jul 14

mazmessenger.com

 

The University of Durango will invest 300 million pesos to open a campus in La Marina.

Beginning this month Mazatlán and the rest of Sinaloa will experience a bonanza in public and private investment said the Secretary of Economic Development (Sedeco), Aarón Rivas Loaiza.

This year will be much better than the previous one, he said, announcing that 11,000 million pesos will be invested by the Federal, State and municipal governments in public works projects.

Mazatlán is in vogue now, the Sedeco Secretary stated. Within the municipality, two new hotels have begun construction with an investment of 1,400 million pesos. As well, the University of Durango will invest 300 million pesos to open a campus in La Marina.

This month bids will be called for a new general hospital to be built in Mazatlán at a cost of 1,000 million pesos.

State-wide, said Rivas Loaiza, Infonavit will provide credit for 16,000 new homes and in August the bidding process for the construction of the Santa Maria dam will begin. Total investment in the dam is expected to reach 1,200 million pesos.

With respect to the amplification of Mazatlán´s port, Rivas Loaiza said he expects the 12,000 million peso investment will put the port in a position to offer a reduction in time and cost for products transported in ships and distributed by land. The idea, he told media, is to compete with with the ports of Long Beach and Panama.

 (from Noroeste).

Phoenix opening trade office in Mexico City this fall

Eugene Scott, The Republic

azcentral.com 

July 2, 2014

Phoenix officials on Wednesday agreed to spend up to $175,000 to set up and staff a trade office in Mexico City.

Doing so, they say, will give the city a better chance at grabbing the more than $26 billion in trade that Mexico does annually with Arizona.Phoenix and Arizona have lagged other border states in exports to Mexico. Arizona exported about $6.3 billion in goods to Mexico in 2012, compared with $26.4 billion from California and $94.5 billion from Texas, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Arizona exports $6 billion worth of merchandise to Mexico annually, according to the Arizona-Mexico Commission.

City staff hopes the office will strengthen foreign direct investment, expand export opportunities for Phoenix businesses and promote tourism. Officials say Mexico's trade relationship with Arizona supports more than 110,000 jobs.

The City Council voted to enter an agreement that will provide $75,000 to the Arizona Commerce Authority to establish an Arizona Trade Office in Mexico City.

Multiple organizations will share space with the Arizona Commerce Authority and Phoenix to cut costs. Staffers said this "co-locating concept" is vital to the success of the Mexico City effort. DiCiccio said the office should open this fall.

Other major funders to the office include Visit Phoenix, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Maricopa Association of Governments. But Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said the value of this office goes beyond Phoenix.

"The success of this office won't be just for Phoenix businesses, but for the entire state," he said. "Because we don't exist as an island, but we're a part of a larger economy."

The council voted to pay Phoenix-based Molera Alvarez up to $100,000 to represent Phoenix's interest in Mexico. Molera Alvarez is a government and public-affairs firm. Former Phoenix Councilman Claude Maddox is the firm's vice president of government and public relations.

Councilman Sal DiCiccio early questioned the city's plans to hire a lobbyist instead of establishing a true trade office, but he was quite supportive of the vote Wednesday.

"This is a really good thing for the city of Phoenix," he said. "This literally moves the state forward and the city of Phoenix forward and gives us the opportunity to go out there and generate our own business and partner with the state of Arizona."

Molera Alvarez will focus on enhancing supply-chain management opportunities for Phoenix businesses in Mexico. The firm also will implement visitation programs for elected officials and business leaders.

The city has been discussing ways to strengthen its economic ties with Mexico for years. The focus on increasing trade is mutual, DiCiccio said. Pro-Mexico, an economic-development organization for the Mexican government, plans to open an office in Phoenix by the end of the year, he said.

Councilman Michael Nowakowski praised the idea and hopes Phoenix plans to open offices in other Mexican cities in the future, specifically Hermosillo, one of Phoenix's sister cities.

"The state of Arizona and state of Sonora are going to get out there and let the world know they are open for business," he said.

Mexico & Cuba Agree to Strengthen Trade, Cooperation

ProMexico is the Mexican Government institution in charge of strengthening the country's participation in the international economy. It was established through presidential decree on June 13, 2007.

Havana, Cuba - Mexico and Cuba signed an agreement this week during the opening of aProMexico office in Havana, Cuba, in an effort to strengthen trade relations and cooperation programs.

ProMexico is the Mexican federal agency responsible for strengthening the participation of the country in the international economy.

"This will launch the kind of commercial relations expressed by President Enrique Pena Nieto during his January visit - to allow more Mexicans to come to Cuba and more Cubans to go to Mexico. May more business arise between our two countries for the benefit of both nations," said ProMexico’s CEO, Francisco González, after signing the document with the Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca.

Roberto Verrier, director of the Center for the Promotion of Foreign Trade of Cuba, stated, "This cooperation agreement is very important within the framework of the new foreign investment law and the creation of the 'Special Development Zone,'" referring to the free trade zone in Mariel’s port, 50 miles west of Havana.

González led a group of 60 Mexican businessmen on Tuesday, visiting the island in search of business opportunities under the new Cuban economic reforms. The reforms, which will take effect next month, also offer tax advantages to foreign investors to help boost the island's economy.

Mexico is one of Cuba’s leading trade partners in Latin America after Venezuela and Brazil.

Translated and edited by PanAmPost.com and BanderasNews.com

Original Story

Mexico and UNS sign agreements

Thursday, 19 June 2014 01:10

BY SUZZETE ALCÁNTARA

The News

Through the Mexican Agency for International Cooperation for Development (Amexcid), the federal government has signed several agreements with the United Nations System (UNS).

The deals aim to strengthen cooperation in sectors such as health, education, social development, gender equality, reproductive health, child rights and agricultural development.

The agreements are part of goals included in the National Development Plan which seeks to boost cooperation with other developing countries.

“This collaboration illustrates the importance of consistency in policies within the country as well as policies that affect the international community,” Foreign Relations Secretary José Antonio Meade said during an interview.

Meade also reported that there is an overall healthy presence of Mexicans in Brazil attending the World Cup, saying that “fans have been enjoying their stay in Brazil during this ... competition, which yesterday gave Mexicans reason to rejoice.

“So far, there have only been minor incidents, such as loss of passports, a couple of injuries sustained by players during games, and a fan who broke his arm but received treatment,” Meade said. “The incidents were resolved by consular authorities we have who work in good coordination with Brazilian.”

Regarding the arrest of the alleged Mexican drug trafficker in Rio de Janeiro, who was preparing to travel to Fortaleza to attend the Mexico-Brazil match, Meade said that consular assistance was provided to him just as as it would have been to any other Mexican.

Abakan Accelerates Business Development in Mexico

marketwatch.com

MIAMI, Jun 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE via COMTEX) --

Abakan Inc. (otcqb:ABKI) ("Abakan"), an emerging leader in the advanced coatings and metal formulations markets, today announced that Abakan, along with its Central American partner, Metallurgic Solutions, SA de CV ("MetalSol "), has secured initial sales and test orders for PComP™ coatings from some of Mexico's largest steel manufacturers. Abakan and MetalSol have also made significant progress in driving the oil and gas industry in Mexico towards early commercial adoption of Abakan's CermaClad ™ pipe cladding products. Mexico's energy sector is currently in the process of expanding its offshore developments to greater depths in the Gulf of Mexico. Expansion in the Gulf of Mexico and around the world is exacerbating the acute need for superior cladding products. Abakan expects that if an accelerated qualification process can be determined and met, that Mexico may well prove to be the commercial entry point for CermaClad ™ pipe cladding products worldwide.

"Abakan initially announced its partnership with MetalSol in September of 2013," stated Abakan CEO, Mr. Robert Miller. "Since that time, we have been working with two of the largest steel producers in Mexico providing them with what we believe is the best available corrosion and wear protection for their production equipment. Our anti-corrosion and wear resistant products lead to longer component life, which would result in very significant savings, due to a decrease in downtime, maintenance and replacement costs, while increasing operational efficiency and profits."

Mr. Miller continued, "Mexico is one of the ten largest oil producers in the world. Pending energy reforms, which are expected to be fully legislated by the end of 2014, coupled with abundant oil and gas reserves, Mexico will be one of the most sought after regions for companies working in the oil and gas industry. MetalSol has provided incredible value and credibility for us in the Mexican market over the past 8 months. Their hard work and commitment, coupled with their reputation and relationships, have enabled us to open doors at some of Mexico's largest companies. Then we let our products do the talking."

MetalSol CEO, Jose Maria Ribot Barroso added, "The value proposition offered by PComP™ coatings makes it extremely easy to sell, especially since companies can save millions of dollars every year by merely substituting the coatings that they currently use with Abakan's longer-life PComP™ coatings. Our conversations with oil and gas and steel companies about PComP™ and CermaClad™ products have been extremely encouraging. The traction gained and the orders that have been secured over the past few months are a testament to the outstanding performance of these products. We are highly confident that we should be able to acquire a sizeable portion of the Mexican coatings market over the next 2 to 3 years."

Mr. Ribot Barroso continued. "We have been working on establishing large scale operations in Mexico to provide locally produced products of the highest quality while creating skilled employment opportunities. We are currently in discussions with several regional economic development departments in order to finalize the best location for building PComP™ and CermaClad™ operating facilities in Mexico. We expect to finalize the plant location shortly. We are working with the top audit, tax, and business consultancy firm in Mexico, Crowe Howarth Gossler, as well as with a host of legal, professional services and industry experts to make a deep and lasting impact in the Mexican oil and gas market. Our goal is to be the number one metal protection firm in Mexico, and with Abakan's products this goal is definitely attainable."

Mexico Oil and Gas Opportunity

Mexico is one of the ten largest oil producers in the world, and major long-anticipated energy reforms expected over the next 12 months expands the opportunity available to companies manufacturing products and providing services to the oil and gas industry. Mexico's side of the deep-water Gulf is estimated to have up to 27 billion barrels of oil (3 times the total proven reserves found in Mexico), with the majority of the reserves being sour (corrosive). Mexico also has the fourth largest shale gas reserves of any country examined in the study by the US Energy Information Administration.

Mexico tourism rebounds with new developments

Maribeth Mellin, Special to SFGate

Published 3:05 pm, Tuesday, June 10, 2014

• 
  Five cruise lines—Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Azamara Club Cruises—have returned for the 2014-2015 seasons, carrying an estimated 200,000 passengers. Mazatlan received more than 300,000 travelers in 2013, when cruising was nearly nonexistent. Photo: Mazatlán Tourist Board

Mexico's tourism industry appears to be recovering dramatically after several worrisome years. Some travelers may be staying away because they're afraid for their safety, thinking drug cartels are wreaking havoc from coast to coast. But Mexico received 23.7 million visitors in 2013, 18 percent more than in 2012. From the looks of things at the recent Tianguis Turístico, Mexico's largest tourism trade show, the country is on a rebound.

Now in its 39th year, Tianguis brings together travel agents, travel wholesalers, destination agencies, hotel and airline companies and the press. Many of those who attend annually seal friendships as well as deals, and displays from nearly all of Mexico's states remind even frequent visitors of the country's rich cultural and natural opportunities. The state of Quintana Roo, home to Cancún and the Riviera Maya, hosted this year's show, and attendees took full advantage of gorgeous beaches and lavish resorts. But reminders of ancient cultures and traditions shone through the region's modern trappings. An appearance by actor Kevin Spacey on the show's second day added a touch of intrigue.

President Enrique Peña Nieto (apparently a Spacey fan) kicked off the show with an inaugural speech announcing plans to invest $13.8 million in tourism infrastructure. A few days later, Secretary of Tourism Claudia Ruiz Massieu announced that the show attracted buyers and press from 61 countries including Vietnam, Nigeria and Norway. Conferences covered a wide range of topics including strategies to increase tourism from Russia to programs to enhance attractions in Chihuahua, Michoacán and other culturally rich destinations. Here are a few of the major announcements.

Culture and Nature in Quintana Roo

The most exciting development, in my opinion, combines Mayan culture and ecotourism in a program called Maya Ka'an. After many attempts, government agencies, eco-tourism groups and private businesses have come together with a solid plan for ensuring the sustainability of the Riviera Maya's natural attributes and its Mayan communities. Small tour companies and cooperativas are offering guided adventures to remote villages where healers demonstrate their use of local flora and homemakers teach guests how to cook in an earthen oven and weave sisal into ropes. Other tours visit small fishing villages where electricity is scarce and families rely on gathering lobster and conducting fly-fishing tours for visiting anglers.

Kayaking, bird watching and nature tours focus on Sian Ka'an Biosphere reserve, protecting a precious million acres of lagoons, canals, mangroves, and reefs along a relatively undisturbed Riviera Maya coastline south of Tulum. And, for extreme adventurers, there's a nighttime bike ride to a spooky cave where snakes hang from crevices in the cave's ceiling as they catch and devour flying bats.

Local licensed guides lead visitors around untrammeled archeological and natural sites. Other community members are learning how to interact with outsiders and develop small businesses producing souvenirs like honey products (including wonderful honey shampoo), handicrafts and jams. Maya Ka'an aims to prove that community-based tourism encourages the sustainable use of natural resources and improves the quality of life for people whose reap few benefits from the massive tourism activity in their homeland.

Circus in the Riviera Maya

On an entirely different realm, Cirque du Soleil showed of its new custom theater at the Grand Mayan resort, where the company will present "Joya,"a full-scale Cirque production with eight performances per week. Looking like an abstract UFO, the freestanding 600-seat theater was still under construction during Tianguis, but practice was underway for the elaborate show, which opens on November 8, 2014. Tickets range from $85 to $225.

Mazatlán cruises again

Reports of rising crime rates along with a weakened economy caused, five cruise lines to pull out of Mazatlán in 2011 and 2012 despite its popularity in the Mexican Riviera circuit. City and state leaders responded briskly several safety measures, leading to a 90 percent decrease in crime over the past two years, according to Francisco Cordoba, secretary of tourism for the state of Sinaloa. Now five lines—Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Azamara Club Cruises—have returned the 2014-2015 seasons, carrying an estimated 200,000 passengers. Mazatlan received more than 300,000 travelers in 2013, when cruising was nearly nonexistent. The future looks bright for 2014.

Other developments

Los Cabos keeps getting swankier. Puerto Los Cabos, the new marina development in San José del Cabo, is slated to gain a new Secrets resort in December 2015 and a JW Marriott is under construction.

Super Shuttle has begun service at the Cancún airport with shuttles running to Cancún and Riviera Maya hotels. Advance reservations are required. In the U.S. call 877-392-1516; in Cancún 998/843-5015.

Back to Spacey

Puzzlement seemed to be the common reaction when attendees were told Kevin Spacey would be on stage during Tianguis. Skepticism turned to frenzied enthusiasm when the hour arrived for his appearance, and the crush to get near the stage would have done the Beatles proud. Ever gracious, the star settled into a well-prepared interview where he answered questions about acting, mentoring and "House of Cards," of course, with practiced humor and sincerity. It was all great fun, but one still wondered "Why is he here?" When the interviewer asked when he liked about Mexico, Spacey said he was fond of Mexican food, and several great movies had been made in Mexico. He mentioned dining with the president at a new, luxurious Cancun resort. He was obviously not a Mexico expert.

Controversy swirled over the next few days as the Mexican press delved further into the Spacey mystery. At a closing conference, a tourism official responded to queries by saying all major international conferences have a keynote speaker. That didn't satisfy the curious crowd. Soon press photos appeared of the Mexican president and Spacey chatting together. Rumors of millions of dollars paid to the actor for his appearance abounded. Spacey inadvertently fueled the fire when he posted a selfie with the president, adding, "1 President is real. W/Pres Nieto in #Mexico. Good meeting a man also making progress in 1st year in office."

A furor over his seeming endorsement of Peña Nieto rose, and Spacey responded. According to CNN, he said, "I guess nobody got the joke. I was in character as Francis Underwood in 'House of Cards,' not myself! I don't know jack about Mexican politics."