PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico -- A growing number of Americans are traveling abroad for lower cost medical care. Now, many in the medical tourism business see big opportunities in Mexico, especially at popular beachfront destinations. While Mexico's beaches beckon tourists seeking a vacation, many also see them as a place where Americans can escape soaring medical costs.

"We can provide anywhere from 25 percent to 45 percent savings," said Collin Childress of Global MedChoices. His company offers orthopedic surgery in the Caribbean. "The main thing is to provide care that's as good as or equivalent to the United States." Medical tourism is a growing industry. And many see Mexico as the next big destination.

"You've had a number of U.S. citizens make the trip to India," said Bruce Fry of Fry Construction. "There's no comparison if you've ever flown on a flight that's that long.

If there's nothing wrong with you, it's difficult at best." Fry's Texas-based company builds medical facilities in the United States. He's hoping to expand to Mexico.

"You also have a facility that meets the same standards and specs you would have, so the only real difference is that you're having the procedure done outside the U.S.," Fry said. His company is now searching for a new beachfront location to build a state-of-the-art medical center.

Possible locations include Puerto Vallarta, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Investors believe we'll see many vacation spots in Mexico become medical tourism destinations within the next year. Their plan is to start by partnering with existing hospitals. There are bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles, but proponents believe the concept will work in Mexico. And while drug violence has scared some Americans away from certain parts of Mexico, resort areas remain among the top vacation destinations.

[readon1 url="http://www.vallartatoday.com"]Source:www.vallartatoday.com - Translation by Suyapa Ajuria Nov. 10, 2012[/readon1]

If you believe the Mayas, the end of the world is near. At least that's how some people have interpreted the fact that when the Mesoamericans conceived their Long Count calendar more than 5,000 years ago, it happened to stop at December 21, 2012.

Others believe the end of the Maya calendar simply refers to the coming of a major global physical or spiritual transmogrification, marking the start of a new era. Whichever camp you fall into, if you don't want to be sitting at home in your recliner when the big day comes, consider heading to one of the many hotels that are marking the date with special Maya-themed deals and packages. We've highlighted a handful of examples both in the heart of Maya country and beyond.

Mexico and Central America

Fairmont Mayakoba and Rosewood Mayakoba
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Dates vary

These sister properties on the beautiful Riviera Maya are honoring the Maya civilization's rich culture with several packages featuring special spa treatments (think healing herbs and bathing rituals), authentic tasting menus (showcasing ingredients such as yucca, verdolaga and chayote) and other on-property events (traditional music and dance, lectures, etc.).

4 must-sees for military buffs

Cuixmala
Jalisco, Mexico
December 15-22

Stressing about the apocalypse can tie your body in knots, so what better way to relax than a weeklong yoga retreat on a tranquil 25,000-acre estate whose name translates to "soul's resting place." Yogini Maya Fiennes will lead classes focused on helping you awaken your kundalini (yogic life force) and your progression into the new age. After you've perfected your downward facing dog, join the beach party commemorating the conclusion of the Maya calendar on December 21.

JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa
Cancun, Mexico
Through December 21

At this top-rated resort surrounded on two sides by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the offerings include two tickets to Chichen Itza to explore the archaeological remains of the ancient Maya city dating back more than 1,300 years as well as Maya-inspired couple's spa treatments, be it the body exfoliation incorporating honey and ground corn or a massage performed according to the historic beliefs of energy flow.

Travel on the cheap: Five times to go

Azul Beach Hotel, Azul Sensatori Hotel and Azul Fives Hotel
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Through December 31

These three family-focused Azul Hotels by Karisma are letting the kiddos get in on the fun with the new Mini Mayans program they introduced this year. The free activities include cooking classes in which budding chefs learn to make tortillas and chocolate milk using Maya ingredients and utensils, a chance to make a 2013 calendar while learning about the Mayas' unique numbering system and storytelling performances while dressed in Maya costumes

[readon1 url="http://www.vallartatoday.com"]Source:www.vallartatoday.com - Translation by Suyapa Ajuria Nov. 9, 2012[/readon1]

The global economy hasn’t found much traction in 2012. Europe’s debt crisis remains unresolved.

Recently a friend asked me, “How do you get to México?”

Gustavo Diaz Ordaz is the name of Vallarta’s recently renovated international airport, catering to national and international flights and the private jets of the privileged few.

Puerto Vallarta is well connected to the airports in North America. There are regular flights from Vallarta and many cities in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, they have to Mexico City, Chicago, Guadalajara, Dallas / Fort Worth, Vancouver, Calgary, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Phoenix, San Diego and others.

Within Mexico flights are from Mexico City, Guadalajara, Toluca, Tijuana, Monterrey and others.

From Canada many direct flights are operated by charter service from cities such as Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and more.

There are regular flights operated by AirCanada and West Jet and U.S. airlines as well.

The Puerto Vallarta International Airport offers service from major airlines and countless charter companies (Aeroméxico, Air Transat (charter), Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Virgin America, Frontier and many others.

[readon1 url="http://www.vallartatoday.com"]Source:www.vallartatoday.com - Translation by Suyapa Ajuria Nov. 8, 2012[/readon1]

Given the decline in the number of international cruise ship arrivals for the next year, the Port Authority (API) of Puerto Vallarta seek ways to improve the situation of the sector in the Mexican Pacific route.

Alex Casarrubias García CEO of API Vallarta, reported that by 2013 is expected the arrival of some 90 international cruises, a figure that will be the lowest of the past 15 years in this city since the end of the decade of the berth in the nineties the local port terminal was about 100 boats.

He explained that, precisely, to the plight faced by the sector in the route-originally formed by Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, the API will work jointly with the Ministries of Tourism of Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Jalisco where port terminals are located the

"We are doing everything possible, with other destinations and tourism secretaries from other states, so that it can improve the picture and the number of cruise ship arrivals," he said.

He said that in the case of Puerto Vallarta and before the departure of the route from Mazatlan - for reasons of insecurity and violence in the port for more than two years, the local API remains committed to stay overnight on boats, ie that the cruise arrives, stay in the destination and departure the next day, as has happened since last year and throughout this year, with very good results.

The API director highlighted the benefits that brings the arrival of the international cruise to Puerto Vallarta, as each passenger spends an average of 65 or $ 70 after that on every ship traveling between 2000 500 and 3000 passengers, which falls between 80 and 90 percent.

The economic benefit generated by these passengers can reach up to 2 million 250 thousand pesos for 3000 passenger ship and is distributed in at least one thousand 400 families living directly from the provision of services to the cruise tourism drops, amen many other businesses that also capture a portion of the expense of the passengers in the tourist destination.

"What we hope is that people, tourism service providers, support  with the care, warmth and, above all, with the services so that passengers perceive that Puerto Vallarta is a tourist destination safe, reliable service and we have quality, "said Casarrubias.

Note that Puerto Vallarta API expects to close the year 2012 with 138 international cruise arrivals and just over 340 000 passengers, however, that the figures may vary slightly on the rise, due to the arrival of ships in repositioning and travel pernotas even by boats in the city.

[readon1 url="http://www.vallartatoday.com"]Source:www.vallartatoday.com - Translation by Suyapa Ajuria Nov. 8, 2012[/readon1]

Mexico's largest airline Grupo Aeromexico said on Monday it had a finalised an order for 60 new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, with an option for 30 more, as part of plan to overhaul its fleet and use more fuel efficient planes.

The order value for the 90 planes is about $9 billion at published list prices.

The company also said it expects to finalise an agreement to purchase 787-9 Dreamliners in the coming weeks. It said in July it would order 10 Dreamliners.

Aeromexico, which went public last year, is betting that Mexico's economy will remain robust in the coming years and analysts have said the order should help them roll out new routes.

It had a fleet of 110 planes as of July.

Aeromexico's operations got a big boost following the 2010 demise of debt-laden rival Mexicana.

The Mexico Ministry of Tourism commenced Mexico's participation in World Travel Market (WTM) – considered one the leading trade fairs in the global tourism industry – today at the ExCeL London Exhibition and Convention Center.

Until November 8, Mexico is exhibiting a pavilion dedicated to the Mayan World, highlighting the country's principal tourist destinations, particularly the segments of cultural, adventure, and nature tourism, luxury, gastronomy, and sun and beach.

From January to August, Mexico attracted over 235,000 visitors from the United Kingdom, a figure 5.6 percent higher than the same period the prior year, according to the Integrated System for Migration Operations (SIOM).

Mexico Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara led the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Mexico Pavilion, which is dedicated to the riches of the Mayan World.  With over 388 square meters of exhibition space, the pavilion features participation from over 64 tourism exhibitors from throughout Mexico.

At the inauguration, Secretary Guevara was accompanied by the Governor of Quintana Roo, Roberto Borge Angulo; Mexican Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Eduardo Medina Mora; Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, Felix Gonzalez Canto; the Senator from the state of Nayarit, Martha Elena Garcia, a member of the Tourism Commission; the Chief Operating Officer of the Mexico Tourism Board, Rodolfo Lopez-Negrete; as well as the Secretaries of Tourism of Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur and Puebla.

The space offers visitors an exhibition of typical dress from different regions throughout the country, as well as a tasting of Mexican cuisine, considered Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

Secretary Guevara also inaugurated the special pavilion dedicated to Cancun-Riviera Maya, which promotes the attractions of the region upon the occasion of the end of an era in the Mayan calendar.

In the 2012 edition of the fair, participation is expected from over 48,000 international tourism operators, as well as tourism ministers, government representatives, and international press.

Among the Mexican exhibitors participating in WTM are the states of Yucatan, Jalisco, Mexico City and Puebla; the Convention and Visitors Bureaus of Baja California Sur, Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Riviera Maya, Cancun, Riviera Nayarit and Chihuahua; the hotels Solmar Hotels & Resorts, Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts, Oasis Hotels & Resorts and Grupo Presidente.

Also participating are tour operators including Alamos Travel Service, Sat Business Travel, Mexitours, Mexcellence Travel, Ketzaltour, Mexico Touring Ground Operators,  Aventuras Mexico Profundo, Kamino Tours, Sprachcaffe Mexico, Viva Zapata, Native Trails Mexico, Viajes De Gala, Komex  Tours, Grupo Royale, Grupo Meca, Gowaii Partners, In Travel Journey Mexico, Caracteres De Mexico, Condor Verde, Encuentro T, Olympus Tours, and Yucatan Holidays, and specialized outlets such as the magazine Mexico Desconocido.

Secretary Guevara will also be meeting with international tour operators at the event, including Johan Lundgren, CEO of TUI Travel, and Amanda Wills, Managing Director of Virgin Holidays.

Secretary Guevara will be the speaker at a meeting of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), with participating members including Andrew Rosindell, Member of Parliament; Martin Craigs, CEO of PATA; and Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (WTO).

The Secretary will also participate in the Ministers Summit of the World Tourism Organization and the World Travel Market, with attendees including Jeff Poole, Director, Government and Industry Affairs, International Air Transport Association (IATA), and David Scowsill, President and CEO of the World Travel & Tourism Council.

While in London, Secretary Guevara will also meet with Maria Mille, Secretary of State for Culture of the United Kingdom; participate in a tourism panel organized by Visit Britain; and meet with Alison Gilmour, Director of ILTM, and Ian Johnson, founder and CEO of Out Now Global.

In the metropolitan area of ​​Guadalajara, of the 365 days in the year, there are 270 days with sunshine

More than 6000 pesos cost to fly Guadalajara + applies the highest collection of the world  route Puerto Vallarta-Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta

Lawmakers in other states of the country agreed that Mexico could face serious food shortages if the authorities of the three levels of government does not allocate more resources to increase production in the field,

GUADALAJARA, JALISCO (01/NOV/2012.) - The U.S. economic slowdown and assemblers of cars that will not install in the State, are the main reasons why it will not reach the goal of 52,000 jobs 2012, said Jaime Eduardo Martinez Flores, head of the Ministry of Economic Development (SEPROE) of Jalisco.

Martinez Flores said that the construction sector has been the one that has suffered the creation of jobs and the trend could continue until March. For this last quarter is expected to generate jobs, but will mainly temporary.

"December is traditionally rests many people in the area of ??construction, there are certainly temporary employment growth holiday season, but low construction is expected and the forecast did Coparmex (Confederation of the Mexican Republic) finish around 38,000 to 40,000 new jobs, "he said.

On the tour he did, along with employers to promote Digital Creative City (CCD) in Canada, said that at this time working in the computer node and the construction project: "I interviewed with three companies interested even as some have programmers working in Guadalajara elsewhere and intended to learn more about the business plan of Creative City to see if they move to an apartment or somewhere. Some companies are concerned, are evaluating and seeing how it turns the evolution of the first stage and are in the process of socialization, this year is not going to see

[readon1 url="http://www.informador.com.mx/economia/2012/414830/6/hasta-marzo-mejorara-la-creacion-de-empleo-en-jalisco.htmi"]Source:www.informador.com.mx - Translation by Suyapa Ajuria[/readon1]