Josefina Rodríguez says that Mexico is not a partner country for Fitur 2025 due to lack of time and downplays Trump's threats about closing the border.
Mexico's Tourism Minister Josefina Rodriguez on Tuesday ruled out a "fracture" in bilateral relations with Spain and stressed that the ties between the two countries, which she described as "brothers," are "stronger" with the arrival of Claudia Sheimbaum to the Presidency and despite the controversy sparked by not inviting King Felipe VI to her inauguration.
"The relationship has never been broken. Tourism is the link between the two countries and we have great investors," he said during a press conference at the Cultural Institute of Mexico in Spain on the occasion of his visit to the country coinciding with the celebration of the International Tourism Fair (Fitur) this year.
In this regard, she said that the relationship remains good. "We adore them. They adore us. (...) We are brothers and that is certainly there and will continue to be there," said the minister, who stressed that "tourism is the bridge" between the two nations. "It is not a political thing," she stressed.
He also said that he plans to meet this afternoon with the Spanish Minister of Industry and Tourism, Jordi Hereu, to "set the agenda." "We are going to exchange good practices," he said, but not before highlighting Spain's leadership in the sector: "it is an example of diversification of community tourism."
In this regard, she explained that Mexico has requested to postpone its role as a partner country of Fitur until 2026 for a matter of "planning". "The change of power between administrations (after Sheinbaum's victory in the elections) did not leave us time to have everything ready," she argued.
"When the announcement was made, it happened during the change of Government, during the transition. The states changed governors, many of them, and in terms of budget, it was not possible for the Secretariat or the states to be present. When September arrived without the states being activated due to this change, it was decided at a national level and also with IFEMA, with which we have never lost contact, not to do it this year because we were not going to be prepared," he said.
Thus, he continued, the new Mexican government decided that it would be a partner country in 2026 "because before there was not enough time." "It was not a resignation, we were not prepared because there was not enough time," he added.
Regarding the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House and his immigration policies, she said she was not worried. "We are busy, not worried. We have a plan and a strategy," she said before clarifying that, however, the Government is "monitoring" the situation, especially with regard to the border.
"Tourism continues to be the bridge that unites the countries, and we will work consistently to encourage Americans to visit Mexico," he said, while appearing optimistic regardless of Trump's threats regarding the closure of the common border.
"I always insist that people come to Mexico to see the country. Regardless of who governs in the United States, Mexico will continue to be Mexico, and we will continue to fight for our goals. Before Donald Trump came to power, there was already an economic plan for the tourism sector," he said.
SECURITY SITUATION
Regarding the security situation in the North American country, Rodríguez took the opportunity to recall that, after 100 days in office, the new Government has managed to "lower the country's crime rate by 15 percent," where he clarified that there are different situations depending on the areas and states.
He also praised the strategy implemented by the Mexican Security Secretariat and noted that there is not a high level of insecurity in the country's main tourist spots, something he stressed.
"There is no tourism without security, so we need to change the perception of it. (...) We are working on changing the perception of certain places and establishing a more efficient security protocol," he explained before urging changes to be achieved through the use of "real numbers."
