The yankee dollar; Tourism

Radio television the University of Texas presents the Yankee dollar. The Yankee dollar What is it Bud. What will it buy. Radio television. University of Texas in cooperation with the National Association of educational broadcasters invites you to tour Mexico with Richard Ariano as he talks to political leaders and to voters to management and to labor to rich to poor to the people of Mexico. One thing will guide these conversations. What is the American dollar bought south of our border. What can it buy. And above all what image of us is our money creating.

American money finds its way into Latin American countries in different ways. Cheap of these are through foreign aid. The federal dollars through monies spent by vacationers the tourist dollar and through money invested by businessmen. The company dollar. Is the channels through which our money flows or fails to flow affect the image it creates for Mexico. Tourism has indeed been the industry without smokestacks. No other single source of foreign exchange can match the contribution which the tourist dollar makes to the Mexican balance of payments. In recent years approximately half of the total contribution to dollar earnings came from tourism and border trade. It might also be noted that tourism has consistently outranks mining petroleum construction or transport insofar as contribution to the national product. Because of the vital importance that the dollar has

been to the Mexican economy strenuous efforts have been made by the Mexican government to make tourism a growth industry. Recently the Bureau of tourism has been elevated to sub-Cabinet rank ex-president Miguel all the money has been appointed to head up a new commission designed to open up new avenues of tourist trade. The traditional hospitality of the Mexican is being supplemented with modern business methods and know how. Designed to give the American tourist more for his daughter and him stimulate even greater influxes of vacationing visitors. In terms of overall attractions few if any nearby nations can match the delights of Mexico. From deep sea fishing ports located on the tropical and desert ghost lines through the exhilarating nip of Cold Mountain air in the Central Plateau Mexico offers something to all rustic primitiveness moving into ultra modern luxury. Couple this with century old traditions of hospitality to foreign visitors. And it is readily evident

why a North American visitors been close to 500 million dollars per year enjoying themselves in Mexico. In order to obtain first hand information about this vital Mexican industry radio television the University of Texas at Mr. Richard Ariano to Mexico City to talk with Don Ricardo a startled bird managing director of the Mexican tourist Association. Here is a recording of that interview. I'm speaking with Lisa and she other than Ricardo a style that Berg was the managing director of the Mexican tourist Association in Spanish known as the source Yes you and me he kind of attorneys more decency other than because of them. Yes we'll refer to him down to Carlow has been connected with this organization for many years and we consider it quite a privilege to be able to interview him here in Mexico City. Undercover Would you mind telling us how long you have been working with the Mexican tourist Association.

Well I might say that I've been connected with the Mexican tourism which Asian or as they always say and it is in this parish to see him he got no reason for the past twenty four years ever sees it was pounded by a group of civic spirited men in this city. But I also would like to say that. While at the beginning. I only was a member of the board then afterwards managing director for the past two years have been the chairman of the board to my credit and however I handle all the details just seem as if it were an employee is the specific purpose of this organization undercover to. Bring as many vicious tourists to Mexico from all over the world. But of course we realize that the fielding in the case of Mexico where principle is limited to a.

North American company and I may say kind of and peacefully the United States in neighboring countries in the Caribbean like Puerto Rico and Central America. If I have a small fortress of the South. But of course we also are interested in bringing tourists from Europe and there we are being brothers or test lately in South America and like you're from. Over the world we also assume people will give information when they want to go abroad. But actually we're interested in having people come to Mexicans paying. Their money the dollars I may say in this country. This is quite interesting because they series of this program entitled The title of the series of this program has been the Yankee dollar and we have been interested in examining some of the effects that the Yankee dollar has in coming

into Mexico through the different channels specifically in your case we are interested in finding out what some of the disadvantages or advantages of the dollars brought down by the tourist are. Well these are the benefits of what's wherever and having us in Mexico receive it dollars and each year more dollars. That was 25 years ago there were really any tourists come to Mexico there was a small trickle of visitors actually coming to Mexico but there are more. Point of contact with the border might explain that there are roads highways. And there also air transportation and so forth. Why it's possible to bring in more visitors. And furthermore there is more interest in foreign countries to visit secure as we have been enjoying during the past 25 years.

Absolute peace and order and what's more we have other nice to put up to date hotels and other facilities to the tourist so it makes it quite open to visit Plaxico. Furthermore which means a lot of attraction to the rate of exchange for the benefit of the visitor who brings in dives. You mentioned briefly that we haven't had or that Mexico has not had any political trouble any serious political disturbances for many many years now and I'm certain some of the press in the United States recently has commented on some of the disorders in the northern part of the country. Would you mind commenting on such things for us. Well I have a federal commission to actually refute in writing some of these. Wild you might call it exaggerated reports. Anything which can be published in any foreign country

newspaper is news school or. Social services to the poor people. We do something which is the ordinary way. It doesn't attract the news but menthol or they really are a foreign country. They were interested in finding out what's wrong with our neighbors that are exactly what they are. During the long wait that's why I especially if it affects in this case Americans living in this country were visitors that come to this country. But those incidents that you referred to were really very very minor importance. They did not do anything worthwhile. Well that's my impression generally. I have been visiting Mexico for many years and have yet to hear of anybody that was hurt in a revolutionary or any type thing of that sort. As a matter of fact I can

confidently state that this is something of the past in Mexico would you agree. Well it's something of the past of the time that I don't know what you are. You have the power to do anything probably in the future. But we believe that we have accomplished something in Mexico to the extent that we might doubt and see into the future and visualize that these countries want to continue in peace forever and ever. Your attitude towards the North American tourist then is one of welcomed with open arms as I understand. This in Generally speaking yes absolutely we welcome all the visitors to Mexico. I refer particular to the American visitor but I like to mention too that we welcome visitors from all the countries in the world. I've mentioned before clearly as they are coming to Mexico in larger numbers each year because they have already found out that it's this country where they can see if I can get things that they'd never have

occasion to get acquainted with in other countries for six finale and come to the United States seem great flocks because the border is very very long and the great masses of population both in Canada and the United States are exactly boring each other but they were also getting a good share of it. We expect to have more and more in the future. Do you have any idea on the kind of approximately how many dollars are brought down by North American tourists over a year span. Well I myself. Say that Jerry referring only to last year. It's a year of moot question. When the mission is underway because some people use some figures are as you some of the figures but here in the best interest as Association we venture to say that we analyze all sources say We come to the conclusion that last year

exactly seven hundred million dollars came from their seats. Brought in by tourists that includes the money is spent by the border. Even issue with this point. The money spent at the bar I like to add that much of it goes back to United States and also I like to mention now that we are talking about figures that the Mexicans spend a lot of money in their seats principally because Mexico is even though I'm in in fewer number than Americans coming to Mexico they go to the same principle it to do some shopping and then when the Mexican actually may be saving the whole year ours was to bring things from the States for himself for his family and for his friends. So our. I want to clarify that the balance is and I favor it. We keep some of the dollars makes these U.S. dollars a little different from a dollar of investment in the sense that

a very very small part of them returns immediately to the United States as I understand it a large percentage of the dollar that is spent here by the tourist stays in Mexico. Concretely that is that it's spent for goods and services in Mexico and very little of it is exploited. Is this a correct impression. Yes that's the correct impression in all respects. All of that money that we're in but is for services and. Certain facilities and maybe for transportation sometimes maybe for gasoline things at store for goods are actually consume. So out of it I say amazing. What specific services would you recommend that the American tourist coming to mexico seek out before he comes down in order that his trip may be more enjoyable that he may have a more well planned trip. Well I would recommend every tour is a comes to foreign countries that

he get in contact with a travel agent by all means because there are some seasoned travelers that do not require any services of any sort or they don't approach any time a travel agent. But by all means it advisable to have a reservation made at hotels especially if they were in the heavy seasons and that is to say with any qualifications it's always advisable to consult a travel agent before traveling to any other foreign country. Here in Mexico there are many people that come and use their cars and they don't want to counter any difficulties because as a matter of fact even if I were laying which span is it they can always find some of the people that talk English. So it's not difficult at all for any truth come from Mexico even if they don't consult anybody in advance. Of course there is a certain knowledge or reading some books will add to the interest

of what they see afterwards for instance I might mention if someone is interested in the archaeology he would like to know first where he's going to see some of the ruins or some of the relics that we have or in various in many parts of Mexico and so he will enjoy his trip or if he's coming to any other particular town if he gets you know in advance some further research on Blitzer. Prizes of hotels and other facilities here were not protected here feeling happier when he returned to his country. This year I've been ization maintain direct contact with the travel agents in the United States. No we do not maintain true direct contact I would try to listen to the SES because I would like to explain further that these Mexican Tourism Association is the number of a decision we do not receive any commissions from anybody at any time from any source

and then the institution is supported by ISS people and forums who are really interested in tourism. Not interested at all interested but they believe that whatever is done to improve the economy of the country is going to be good for everybody. In other words the US dollar let's call it away is spent in this country is going to be beneficial to the economy at large and so there are many people practically kind of the front is going to be benefit by it. So it's good for everybody. There are ramifications then to the tourist dollar. It's not only the tourist services that benefit from them but the economy at large. I beg your pardon I didn't know that. In other words you are as I understand you you stated the tourist dollar benefits many more people than just merely those engaged in tourism or years of railways Yes

surely. Well think for instance it's so obvious that it may not need an explanation if someone comes to their hotel here in Mexico City here. I don't want to mention a particular detail because I'm not advertising any and whatever and they're all our friends and. But after they pay their bills at the hotel that money whether it's paid in U.S. currency or any other currency why it goes into the. Into the treasure of the hotel. But of what percentage of that. Money's going to be retained by the hotel when they this trip that their business idea to be sure. Perhaps only 8 percent 9 or 10 percent. The rest of that money 90 percent are actually going to pay salaries to the employees to purchase milk or meat or pay taxes to the government for many other items.

So therefore the minute it goes into the milkman or the butcher and all that it goes through another channel which it has no bearing directly with tourism. But if their butcher is very prosperous and the kind of tourism he's going to buy a car to morrow and therefore you are going to see that there will be but only because it's going to be proved by that that there it's an endless chain that is to say you can never see the end of that towards dollars spent in Mexico. Well thank you very much we certainly appreciate this information. Mr Ariano next interviewed Mr Ernst learned burger manager of the restaurant chalet Suisse up. This is Richard at a ya know we're in Mexico City and certainly what is one of the most popular restaurants in the city for tourists and for the Mexicans This is the chalet Suisse where there is the Swiss chalet that is run by Mr. Lynn Badger was born in Mexico for the past 15 years in the area. Happy to be able to bring you a question of this program from a restaurant that is considered to

be a delight for any and all tourists in Mexico City. How long ago did you come to Mexico. Exactly 15 years ago. Did you come specifically to be in the restaurant business was this your game. Well they call me here to manage the Smiths club here of course I thought anything is alright for me as long as I could get into this country oh which I heard some people said it was kind of a kind eyes. I thought it was in many respects especially at tourist scene but I found out when I once I was here I found out that I had a great and a great future. My professional restaurant is sincere and as everybody knows everything about everything must be finished. So I came out in Mexico and it took me very little time to find out there is a future with tourism specifically is what we are interested in today and we are

very curious would like to know what the reaction is of the average restaurant to where those people that cater to Mexico with respect to the Yankee dollar is this is an important part in your business do you feel that its a necessity in your kitchen. Let's say unfortunately everybody thinks that. Some think it should come down here. We have to make it. It's good for the country. At least it's better

to make it personal. It is that all of it makes you go on to something although you do think possibly this is quite interesting. So you think that it is better to have the Yankee dollar down here than left on the basis of services rather than memory. That's just what I mean. I would like to have everybody here think the same way as I do. Instead of having a loan on it it worked a little harder because the Americans are aware in spending that a fabulous piece of money for myself I can say I did well enough and I was 11 years that I owned is a restaurant and I'm teaching what other people do the same expected to be brought into your drive and

as a natural way to work against money. This is quite interesting because you seem to do a tremendous business here in a restaurant here dish on this research. In fact as I came in the day I noticed that there were still quite a number of people waiting here. Why is it that you can go places in Mexico City and there is no waiting line and yet invariably many times that I've come here to wait in line but enough people to indicate at the front is accident. Well for some eight years ago an interview with the triple A The American Automobile Association its chief inspector came to my restaurant and said I mean I just put jurist on in my case so well he explained it.

But I found out later on that that was my luckiest moment of my life. He made a very small cut in the book that this is a restaurant if you will not be cheated you get the money is worse. The phone is going to be in my life. The way of business here is not to get the customer just to see a comment that has to go any place where they are something they want them to be. They instead to the restaurant themselves which unfortunately in Mexico is still a drain to get a seat in the restaurant. Just giving the service

less expensive and that is the answer to the success of this restaurant. But I'm sure that it certainly is because I'm certain that you do a very large repeat business here. I myself does it every time I'm in Mexico City. I'm quite interested in another aspect is this. You have a lot of Torii of the American tourist and you're quite complimentary to him. But do you ever have any problems with the American tourists. We will probably be yourself serving. The people. Cause my mom's in Mexico if they came that would cause trouble in your country. They think they are the big shots and they want to show people here they are in every respect. They are not the welcome part I would say 95 percent of visitors down here

leaving a wonderful and happy if they can make it in one day. That is not our fault if we don't reach the present. Just take the case for your own country. You will never see a restaurant owner that says my clients. For someone. Who. Does not even in your families want them. I'm 100 percent. Understanding. The tree in the neighborhood or annoying little family itself. You think that the president and especially his wife really are in Mexico as far as tourism is concerned. I would even rear sado they dread if you know they double that confidence which the Mexicans have in the States before. Twice as much you know. And we feel it when the

people that come and visit us every day. Last year at this time we had a good July since the first of July up to this day. We have already about it is a noisy plans and we expect at least Mrs. Kennedy's visit the president's visit. Well my ammunition instanter he will make side. Mr.. Kennedy himself to come and visit this country. But soon found out it's. Just. Been about hours away. When she's on television me in Spanish I watch instead of ice and I mistook me as a man in an argument that man is trying to stay in business. Wonderful to be able to come in and nation and there is a pleasure

in our story and getting it so to say the nation of Mexico than in the office that looks. Women said she wasn't a busines wife she said the number one starting with Mr. Ambassador we certainly thank you very much for this interview you've been very kind with us. We leave you now Ed. I was recently in Mexico City. This is the first in a series of interviews conducted by Richard Ariano in Mexico. Mr. Ariano has interviewed Don Ricardo's thought a bird managing director of the Mexican tourist Association. And Mr. Ernst learned burger manager of the restaurant

chalets we so in Mexico City. The Yankee dollar was produced by R. S. Norris and directed by B W Crocker at Radio Television. The University of Texas under a grant in aid from the National Association of educational broadcasters. This is the N.A. E.B. Radio Network.