Unit 4- Tourist Destinations - Mexico

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BTT 2MARKETING MANAGEMENT All right are reserved with CU-IDOL Tourism product Europe & America Course Code: BTT113 Semester: Third Unit: 4 www.cuidol.in

Tourist destination of Mexico 33 COURSE OBJECTIVES COURSE OUTCOMES • To familiarize students with world geography • To enrich student with knowledge of physical location of continent • To enrich student with knowledge of tourist destination on the map of Europe & America www.cuidol.in Q 101) INSTITUTE OF DAISllTAriNgChEt aArNeDreOsNeLrvINeEdLwEiAthRNCIUN-GIDOL

43 UNIT OBJECTIVES UNIT INTRODUCTION •After studying this unit, the students will be able to • • Describe Mexico • State the country's capital • List the festivals and bands 0f Mexico • Explore the beautiful and exotic locations of Mexico www.cuidol.in Q 101) INSTITUTE OF DAISllTAriNgChEt aArNeDreOsNeLrvINeEdLwEiAthRNCIUN-GIDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 5 • Basic facts • Population: 126 million people live in Mexico (2021) • Capital: Mexico City with 17 million inhabitants is the country's biggest city. • Name: United Mexican States (in Spanish: Estates Unidos Mexicanos) • Government: Democracy, Republic • Language: Spanish • Literacy: More than 95.3% over the age of 15 years can read and write • Religion: Christians, mainly Roman Catholics (89%) • Currency: 1 Peso = 100 centavos • Flag colors: green, white and red • History: Mexico was conquered and colonized by the Spanish from the 16th century. The president of Mexico is Andrés Manuel López Obrador. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 6 • Interesting facts on Mexico Mexican Flag • The flag is shows three bands in green, white and red. • The emblem on the white ground shows an eagle standing on a cactus with a snake in the beak. • The colors of the Mexican flag stand for independence, unity and religion. • The legend describes, that the Aztec settled and built their capital city which they named Tenochtitlan, which is today Mexico City, on the place where they saw and eagle sitting on a cactus, eating a snake www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 7 www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 8 • Mexico Map and Geography • Mexico is located on the North American continent and shares borders with the USA in the North and Belize and Guatemala in the South. • The border between Mexico and the USA is the second longest border in the world and is about 3,155 km/ 2,000 miles long. • Mexico has mountains in the eastern and northern parts of the country, rainforests in the southern and eastern parts and deserts in the West. • Most of the bigger cities are located in the southern parts of the country. There are low coastal plains, high-rugged mountains and a high tableau in the Centre of the country. • The climate varies from tropical climate to desert climate. • Mexico has four time zones! www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 9 • Mexico City, the country's capital city • Mexico is situated on the ‘Ring of Fire’, the world’s most prominent volcano and earthquake region. • However, the volcanos on Mexico's Baja California, a popular tourist destination, are mostly dormant. • Cactus valley in Baja California • The peninsula to the west of mainland Mexico is called Baja California. Over 120 species of cactus are growing there! • Mexican People and Languages • Most people in Mexico speak Spanish. Mexico is the country with the most Spanish speakers in the world. • More people speak Spanish here than in Spain, because many more people live in Mexico and the country is also more than three times bigger. • Most Mexicans (80%) are Christians as Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Spanish colonists. La Virgen de Guadalupe (Virgin of Guadalupe) is considered the Patron saint of Mexico. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 10 • Fiesta de la Virgen - Festivities in Mexico • Mexicans are known as very friendly and welcoming foreigners; they are really fond of kids. • Mariachi are the popular musicians who play folk music. • They mainly use string instruments, but also trumpets are sometimes played. • The groups are often invited to play at birthday parties, weddings and other family celebrations. • Mariachi band • Famous Mexican are among many others: the actress Selma Hayek, the guitarist Carlos Santana and the soccer players Javier Hernandez and Guillermo Ochoa. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 11 • Mexico Animals • Mexico is one of the most bio-diverse countries on earth. • The country has the most reptile species in the world housing over 700 reptile species and also has the second most (over 430) mammal species in the world. • In Mexico, there are jaguars, pumas and huge iguanas. • Whales, manta rays and manatees are common in the oceans and can sometimes by spotted of the Yucatan coast. • In the jungles of southern Mexico, one can encounter various types of lizards, monkeys and colorful birds, such as parrots. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 12 • Mexico Economy • Mexico's main trading partners are the USA, which is the most important partner for exports and China and Japan who also sell many products to the Mexicans and thus are Mexico's biggest import partners. • The main exports from Mexico are corn (maize), oil, fruits and vegetables, silver, coffee, cotton. • Mexico's largest cities • Mexico City: more than 17 million inhabitants • Guadalajara: about 4 million inhabitants • Monterrey: about 4 million inhabitants • Tijuana: about 2 million inhabitants www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 13 • Mexico City is sinking • The city is slowly sinking to the depths of the oceans like Atlantis! Well, not really. But Mexico City is sinking at a rate of about 10 inches a year as the city pumps draw water from the lake that supports it. • Mexico City is the oldest city in North America • Many believe the oldest city in North America is St. Augustine, but Mexico City was actually founded a little over 40 years before it in 1521. • The city was built by the Spaniards on the ancient ruins of the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 14 • There are women-only cars in the subway • A socially controversial idea that has become popular in some cities around the world is segregated transportation. • Mexico City is one of those cities with subway cars where it is illegal for men to enter, creating a space that's completely safe for women. • Like any large city, Mexico City has its standard crime rate, and this is to try and help combat public groping, assault, and even kidnapping. • To compare cities, Mexico City is still about as safe as New York City. It even has the reputation as one of the safer places to go! www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 15 • Home of the world’s smallest volcano • Mexico is home to the world’s smallest volcano • The Cuexcomate Volcano sits just outside the city of Puebla and stands a cute 43 feet tall. • Compared to Mauna Loa in Hawaii which stands 13,678 feet tall. • Mexico is gay-friendly • Same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption are both legal for the inhabitants of Mexico! While its strong ties to the Roman Catholic Church made the country lean towards the conservative side, there has been a social shift, • Mexico has even marketed itself as a gay friendly destination, with Mexico City as a frontrunner. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

GENERAL AND BASIC FACTS OF MEXICO 16 • Mexico has near ancient education • What is the oldest university in North America? Many would assume Harvard, but it has nothing on the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City. • This dinosaur opened in 1551 as the Royal and Pontifical University of New Spain, but unfortunately was closed in 1867 during the dictatorship. • It re-opened during the revolution, so unlike Harvard it hasn’t been open as long, but it has been around longer! www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 17 • Long a favorite vacation destination for North Americans, Mexico is also becoming increasingly popular with tourists from • Europe seeking to enjoy the country's seemingly endless sunshine, stunning scenery, and beautiful sandy beaches-not to mention its astonishingly rich cultural heritage. • So important are Mexico's ancient Aztec and Mayan sites and historic colonial cities that many have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ensuring they'll remain unchanged for generations to come. • Interestingly, these locations-including places like Guanajuato, ChichénItzá, and Uxmal-are often as popular as traditional beach vacation spots like Cancún, Puerto Vallarta, and Playa del Carmen. • Topping the whole experience is the country's rich culture, a fascinating mix of native people, as well as colonial influences from Spain, that shows up in everything from the country's culinary creations to its vibrant musical and dance traditions. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 18 • Cancún and the Mayan Riviera • Lying along a beautiful stretch of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico are the resort destinations of Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and the island of Cozumel, collectively known as the Mayan Riviera. This magnificent area on the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula attracts some five million visitors each year, in the process generating huge tourist revenues. • The area also boasts numerous fun things to do, such as dolphin and stingray swims,snorkeling among reefs and tropical fish, as well as scuba diving in the world's largest underwater museum, a spectacular collection of sculptures submerged at depths of up to eight meters. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 19 • Copper Canyon: Mexico's Grand Canyon • Chihuahua, one of Mexico's most northerly states-it shares the border with New Mexico in the US-is home to one of the country's most visited natural attractions, the stunning Copper Canyon (Barranca del Cobre). • Located in a region known as the Sierra Madre • It consist of a spectacular group of deep canyons • Copper Canyon is in fact larger and deeper than its better-known cousin, the Grand Canyon www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 20 • Puerto Vallarta All right are reserved with CU-IDOL • Another of Mexico's increasingly popular beach destinations is the Pacific coastal city of Puerto Vallarta. Often shortened to just \"Vallarta,\" the city first appeared on the vacation radar in the 1960s as a playground for North America's social elite and has since become extremely popular among foreigners looking for second homes in a sunny, warmer climate. • Many parts of it remain untouched by modern development. • Nowadays, the city is as likely to attract an older cruise ship audience looking to swim with the dolphins as it is younger travelers looking for adventure, found here in activities as diverse as paragliding and jet skiing. www.cuidol.in

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 21 • Cabo San Lucas and the Los Cabos Corridor • At the southern tip of the beautiful Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos-often referred to simply as \"Cabo\"-is one of Mexico's top beach destinations. Consisting of a large stretch of coastline that extends from the towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo and known as the Los Cabos Corridor (Corredor Turistico), this 30-kilometer stretch of pristine beaches attracts visitors the world over for its clear waters, diving, snorkeling, and fishing (it also hosts the world's largest marlin contest). • Numerous resorts have sprung up that cater to all tastes and budgets, from luxurious spas to golf-centered properties offering some of the best courses in North America. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 22 • Mexico city • Mexico City (Ciudad de México) is not only the capital of the country and the seat of government, it is one of the country's most popular alternative travel destinations thanks to its many world-class museums, art galleries, and attractions • It's here, you'll find most of Mexico City's major attractions, many within walking distance of Constitution Square (Plaza de la Constitución), the city's bustling main plaza, including the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Templo Mayor with its Aztec relics. • Adding to the whole experience are the huge volcanic mountains overlooking the city, www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 23 • ChichénItzá: The Mayan Metropolis • A popular day trip for those visiting Cancún and Playa del Carmen or the Yucatán capital of Mérida, the magnificent Mayan city of ChichénItzá is one of Mexico's most visited archaeological sites, as well as one of the biggest and best restored. • Highlights of a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site are numerous. • A must-see here is the massive El Castillo, also known as the Pyramid of Kukulkan, and at 30 meters high, the site's tallest structure. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 24 • Guanajuato All right are reserved with CU-IDOL • Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its many old colonial buildings, winding lanes, and narrow alleys, Guanajuato is a city that just begs to be explored on foot. • A particularly pleasurable experience is visiting its many plazas, including the delightful Jardin de la Union, the city's main square with its splendid old architecture. • It's here, you'll find the beautiful old San Diego Church and the majestic Juárez Theater, along with fountains and flower beds, cafés, and restaurants. • , Guanajuato is home to many fine galleries, as well as interesting museums, none more so than the Museum of Quixote, www.cuidol.in

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 25 • Ixtapa and Zihuantane jo • While there's no denying the appeal of Mexico's larger beach resorts, there's much to be said for paying a visit to some of the country's many smaller vacation destinations. • Two of the very best are the towns of Itapúa and its neighbor, the much smaller former fishing village of Zihuantanejo on the country's Pacific coast. • Fun activities include shopping in its fish market or, better still, taking a fishing excursion to catch something of your own. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 26 • The Ancient Fortress of Tulum • Famous as the only fortified Mayan settlement located on the coast, the ancient city of Tulum is one of the Yucatán Peninsula's most visited attractions. • In the Mayan Riviera and within easy reach of the beaches of Cancún, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel, the site's well- preserved ruins can be seen for miles around due to their location atop 12-meter-high cliffs overlooking the beautiful Caribbean Sea. • Tulum is also famous for its tall walls, giving the site the feel of a fortress and suggesting a military, as well as religious significance www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 27 • Cozumel: Island Life • The Island of Cozumel has pretty much everything needed for a perfect Mexican getaway. Located 20 kilometers from the Yucatán Peninsula, this lush tropical paradise takes its name from the ancient Mayan, \"Ah-cuzamil,\" which translated means \"land of the swallows,\" and has long been inhabited. • The top beaches for these sun-seekers are Playa San Juan, Playa San Francisco, and Playa Santa Rosa, to name but a few. • Many are attracted to Cozumel by the superlative diving experiences to be enjoyed around its coral reefs. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 28 • Guadalajara • Second only to Mexico City in size, Guadalajara, capital of the state of Jalisco, has successfully conserved its unique mix of colonial and native Tapatíos influences. • It's a fun city to explore on foot due to the four large squares that together form the shape of a cross and comprise the old city center. The best of them, Plaza de Armas, is the perfect place to begin a tour and includes such notable buildings as the 17th-century Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno) and the beautiful Baroque Guadalajara Cathedral (Catedral de Guadalajara), built between 1558 and 1616. www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

VARIOUS TOURIST DESTINATIONS OF MEXICO 29 • Mérida: Yucatán's White City • The capital of Yucatán, Mérida is one of Mexico's finest old colonial cities and is perfectly located to serve as a base from which to explore the region's many fine Mayan sites, including ChichénItzá and Tulum. • The European influences are everywhere, particularly in the old city squares and plazas where evidence of French architecture can still be seen. • It's also a remarkably neat and tidy city, something of a badge of honor for its citizens who like to dress in white, giving the city its long-standing nickname of Ciudad Blanca, the \"white city.\" www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Summary 30 • The world’s most prominent volcano and earthquake region is situated in Mexico • It has 4 time zone • Mexico has many European references • Most people in Mexico speak Spanish, most of the world's Spanish speakers are in Mexico • Mexico still uses ancient education www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

Reference 31 • Reference books: • Specific Country Guide Books of Lonely Planet Publication. • DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Europe • A.K Bhatia – International Tourism Management. • International Geography for Travel and Tourism by John P.Wrades www.cuidol.in All right are reserved with CU-IDOL

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