Investing in the Riviera Maya, Mexico

The Rivera Maya is on the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo and includes Tulum, Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, and of course Playa del Carmen with a growth rate of 26% per annum, which according to the the Guinness Book or Records is the world's fastest growing city. Even with this growth matrix, Playa del Carmen and the Rivera Maya continues to maintain its Caribbean charm.

The Riviera Maya is one of the most popular and beautiful tourism districts in Mexico, covering an 80-mile stretch of Caribbean coastline, and is famous for its all-inclusive resorts, powder white sand beaches, crystal blue waters, and array of recreational activities. As a result, Riviera Maya businesses, real estate and the tourism industry are booming.

The terrain of Riviera Maya is flat, with tropical jungles and breathtaking coastlines along the Mexican Caribbean. Residents and tourists enjoy a pleasant climate, with the average annual temperature ranging from 77°F to 86°F . Offshore water temperatures in Riviera Maya range from 78°F in January to 84°F in August. The months of May through November are the rainy season, bringing at most one or two short afternoon showers a day.

At $13 US billion a year, tourism is the third largest revenue source for the Mexican Government. The Yucatan Peninsula, which includes Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, generates over 70% of this $13 billion in tourism revenue. The Mexican Government projects a six-fold increase in tourism investments by 2012, to reach 20 billion dollars.

President Calderon reported a record investment of 3.5 billion dollars was reached in 2007, surpassing expectations. “Our wish is, of course, not just to keep up, but to increase the rhythm of investment in the sector this year. By 2012 we want Mexico to have private investment in tourism of at least 20 billion dollars,” Calderon said. The Mexican president is keen to promote investment in infrastructure as a way to diffuse the effects of a the recession in the United States.