The number of national and foreign tourists who visited Mexico in 2011 reached of close to 190 million, 3.7% over 2010, informed the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR). The US hotel chain AMResorts, will invest 400 million dollars in Mexico to open three new luxury hotels, two in Puerto Vallarta and one in Cancun. The mining sector could invest close to four billion dollars in new projects, expansions, technology, training, environment and modernizations in 2012, similar to its investment in 2011, said the Mining Chamber of Mexico (CAMIMEX).

Since I have traveled in Mexico for many years – and now live in Mexico – I thought that instead of discussing all the negative press Mexico has been getting lately, I would tell you why I love it here.

New trade deals and low-cost labor have made Mexico a profitable base for car production. It's also attracting other parts of the auto-supply chain, from steel mills to brake makers, as the "made in mexico" trend grows. Six years ago, Mexico was the world's ninth largest exporter of cars. Today the country is ranked fourth behind Germany, Japan and South Korea with exports expected to total more than 2.14 million vehicles this year.

For anyone who has not been to Mexico (and/or who tells other people not to go because of what they see on the 6 o’clock news), please think twice. I have been traveling to Mexico for more than 20 years and will continue to travel to Mexico for the next 20 years, unless we end up moving there first!

Acclaimed American actor, director and environmentalist Robert Redford, an invited guest of the World Travel & Tourism Council Americas Summit, brought a touch of Hollywood glamour to Thursday morning’s sessions, entertaining the audience with stories of growing up as a rebellious kid in a working-class Los Angeles neighborhood, his rise to superstardom and his longstanding connection to Mexico.