Eduardo Torreblanca, Director General, Mexico Travel Channel • Interview

How is Mexico Travel Channel contributing to the Mexican tourism industry?

We focus on the tourism industry, which is one of the main sectors in Mexico. The original owners of the channel wanted to sell it, and we acquired it on December 31, 2018. The current owner is Gin Talent and Entertainment. The brand was not touched by the new owner because Mexico Travel Channel is a well-established brand in the country.

What impact has the pandemic had on your business?

We have been severely impacted because Mexico Travel Channel broadcasts a great deal of content that is recorded outdoors, and currently it is not possible to go out as part of the contingency measures to stop the spread of the disease. We have done most of our content remotely as a result. The coronavirus crisis is under control in Asia and Europe, so we expect things to gradually return to normal in Mexico as well, which will benefit the tourism sector. The majority of tourism businesses have been heavily impacted, with some surveys estimating that up to 30% of tourism-related businesses could shut down.

What role do you play in the tourism sector, and how can you work to reactivate this sector?

Mexico Travel Channel is a business; we need to be a profitable channel that generates income. At the same time, we have to pay attention to the current situation. We are part of the tourism ecosystem and have to do something to reactivate the industry. We can achieve that by working closely with the authorities. In addition, we have to stay in touch with the private sector, including hotel chains and airlines, for example. We have to work together with the private and public sectors as well as SMEs, which have been heavily impacted by the situation.

Our impression is that Mexicans are not that interested in their own country and might prefer to visit other countries. However, Mexico has many things to offer, and we can use this situation to tell Mexicans that domestic tourism is a better option these days. For example, Oaxaca and Chiapas offer great opportunities to discover new places. Mexicans should travel around Mexico to find the variety of opportunities on offer. I have seen some pictures of Mexico that I cannot even believe were taken here. There will be great opportunities to travel at affordable prices. ✖