PUERTO VALLARTA AND THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ON LATIN AMERICA 2012

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The seaside city of Puerto Vallarta is currently hosting the 2012 World Economic Forum on Latin America until the 18th of April. The meeting, held under the theme "Regional Transformation in a New Global Context", has registered a record number of participants for this gathering, with close to 900 top regional and global leaders from 70 nations visitng the desitnation.

"Puerto Vallarta is pleased to welcome so many prominent leaders to its shores," said Guillermo Ohem, General Director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Board. "Our city is well-prepared to host an event of this magnitude, and we offer the infrastructure necessary to ensure its success."

An "extreme makeover" has occurred in Puerto Vallarta; the historic downtown has just completed a six-year urban renewal program along the waterfront. Continued improvements include a second tunnel on the Libramiento slated for completion in 2012; the construction of the third bridge over the Ameca River, which connects Vallarta to Banderas Bay, the new Los Muertos pier which is currently in process and the upgrade of Highway 200 to make Puerto Vallarta more easily accessible is also in the works.

The recently expanded and renovated "Gustavo Díaz Ordaz" International Airport (PVR) offers excellent connectivity on commercial carriers from Guadalajara, Monterrey, Toluca, Mexico City and major U.S airports. Charters arrive daily from Canada, the U.S and Europe as well as South America.

The new International Convention center was recently noted as meeting the highest requirements of the World Tourism Organization to hold international meetings in accordance with the guidelines set by the United Nations conventions system. The success of the convention center is a reflection of Puerto Vallarta's tourism infrastructure in general; high-quality hotels, professional golf courses, international restaurants, full-service marinas and outdoor activity areas, with everything backed by a high level of service.

Nearly 50% of the workforce is employed in tourist related industries: hotels, restaurants, personal services, and transportation. The municipality does however continue to have strong agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors. While the U.S. economy has created a downturn in overall tourism business, the other markets including Canada and Europe are still quite strong. The city's population has grown steadily, showing a growth of 3% in the ten years from 2000 to 2012, according to the Cuaderno Estadístico Municipal, making it the second-largest city in the state of Jalisco.

Puerto Vallarta garners ongoing acclaim for its varied attractions to travelers. It is a favorite destination for romance, proven by the thousands of weddings performed in the destination each year, and the recent awarding of "Most Romantic Place in Mexico 2012" as well as "Favorite Beach Destination 2012" by users of the site About.com. In 2011, Puerto Vallarta won the title of "Friendliest City in the World", as chosen by readers of the prestigious magazine Condé Nast Traveler. In 2010, Puerto Vallarta was named "Best Place to Retire in the World" by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). That same year, the city was named "Best Holiday

Destination in Mexico" by USNews.com.