SACRAMENTO, CA – In an effort to entice new and repeat travelers from Mexico, California’s top international market, the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC) is launching a new Web site, www.visitacalifornia.com.mx, to give travelers the inside scoop on how to experience the California lifestyle during their visit. 
“Although we welcomed 6.7 million Mexican visitors last year, making it our biggest international market, we lost ground in 2008 — 9 percent — over the previous year due to high gas prices and the recession,” said Caroline Beteta, CTTC president & CEO and chair of the U.S. Travel Association. “This new Spanish-language Web site is part of one of the ways we hope to make planning a California dream vacation easier and more compelling to this important market.”
The new Web site will feature everything Mexican travelers need to plan their vacation, whether it be iconic attractions for first-time visitors or hidden gems that will entice repeat visitors. Mexican travelers will also find information on everything from shopping and dining, to national and state parks, skiing and winery tours, plus maps, itinerary suggestions, phone numbers, visa requirements, special promotions and more. In addition, users will be able to search by region, lifestyle, and things to do to create the perfect custom trip to the Golden State.
Forty-nine percent of Mexicans visiting the US visited California in 2008, spending $1 billion in the state. Overnight visitors stayed an average of 7.2 nights. The new website is part of CTTC’s long-term strategy to invest more in expanding international “high value” markets. For more information visit www.visitcalifornia.com.