A real trip: a modern look at Mexico’s traditional plant medicine

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April 4, 2023

Mexican natural medicine expert — Of the 23,314 vascular plant species native to Mexico, anywhere from 3,000–5,000 are thought to have medicinal benefits. (Government of Mexico)

From time to time, I’m presented with a topic that transports me into a rabbit hole of investigation from which I emerge only days later. This is one of them.

Traditional plant medicine in Mexico is layered. To say I have even scratched the surface with the research for this article would be a gross understatement. But, I must pull myself out of the weeds (pun intended) to share my findings.

A Mexica sculpture carrying a cacao pod. Cacao and chocolate were both used medicinally by ancient indigenous cultures in Mexico. (Wikimedia Commons)

I’m not referring exclusively to psychedelics. This genre encompasses a much larger swath of the plant kingdom, nearly all of which can be traced back to the beginnings of Mesoamerican civilization.

Of the 23,314 vascular plant species native to Mexico, anywhere from 3,000–5,000 are thought to have medicinal benefits, according to the University of Texas at El Paso’s Herbal Safety website. Many, like the ones I’ve listed below, are still used today.

For the record: I am not a doctor, nor a scientist. Please find out more details on these herbs before deciding to use them at your own risk.

Mexican arnica

Not to be confused with European arnica, Mexican arnica still reaps similar anti-inflammatory benefits. For stomach issues and nervous disorders, it was traditionally ingested in a tea form. Today, it is commonly found as a tablet or cream applied topically to reduce swelling and inflammation.

Aloe vera

Aloe, like leather bombers, is a forever trend. For centuries, it’s been used to improve digestion and treat burns. It’s now found in beverages, lotions and other over-the-counter skin-care products. Several Mexican states use the plant as a supplement for Type 2 diabetes.

Sarsaparilla (Mexican zarsaparilla)

Sarsaparilla was a Mesoamerican go-to for patients in need of an anti-inflammatory or an immunity booster. It’s also thought to improve liver function. You will most commonly find it today sold as a tea.

Mexican oregano

Oregano oil is a staple in most plant-medicine cabinets as an alternative to antibiotics. Mexican oregano was, and is, used to fight respiratory illnesses and stomach ailments and promote overall healing. The Maya have been using it for centuries to cure or relieve patients of asthmatic conditions.

Damiana

Found in the driest regions of Mexico, damiana boasts a wide variety of health benefits for your intestinal tract and bladder. It’s even used as an antidepressant. However, damiana’s real draw is its aphrodisiac qualities, a fact long known by the Maya.

Copal

You probably know very well that distinct, smoky scent of burning copal used to cleanse unnecessary energies from your body or home. For thousands of years, the coveted tree resin was also used as a Mesoamerican medicine to cure toothaches, headaches and diarrhea.

Maize

A self-proclaimed tortilla addict, I was disappointed to learn medical maize isn’t used as often today as it was in the past. Everyone from the Mexica (Aztec) to the Maya used corn to cure fevers, fatigue, ulcers and kidney problems.

Nopal

Joint pain? Nausea? Diabetes? If you like to “eat your medicine,” you’ll be delighted to learn that nopal cactus was used traditionally to cure such ailments. Modern alternative medicine practitioners tout the prickly pear’s ability to lower inflammation and regulate blood glucose levels.

Chayote

Originally used medicinally by the Mexica, we now know that the compounds in chayote squash promote heart health and control blood sugar. It’s often suggested as an anti-arteriosclerosis.

Cacao

Its use to treat fatigue, promote weight gain and improve digestion among the Mexica and Maya has been well documented by researchers. But why are cacao ceremonies all the rage these days?

Aside from mood-boosting phenylethylamine and high levels of antioxidants, some indigenous peoples of Mexico believe that the deity Quetzalcoatl brought it from the gods.

“[It’s] the blood of the earth, through which we can obtain strength, sensitivity and joy at being alive,” says Giovanna Navarro, a Mexico City native who has been leading cacao ceremonies for five years.

Okay, okay. You’re itching to hear a bit about the trippy stuff, aren’t you?

Not one to disappoint, let’s continue into the field of hallucinogenic plant medicines, better known as psychedelics.

Peyote

A cactus native to Northern Mexico that contains mescaline, peyote is a naturally- occurring psychoactive alkaloid. (I mentioned I’m not a scientist; that sentence made me feel like one.)

Its use can be traced back more than 5,000 years as both a hallucinogen and enema for fever reduction. Eating it raw can be highly nauseating, so it’s common to ingest it as a powder. Peyote is used today to increase creativity, awareness, euphoria and assist in chronic pain relief.

Salvia divinorum

Also known as la hierba de la pastora (the shepherdess’ herb) Salvia divinorum is grown in Oaxaca’s Sierra Madre Oriental and used ritualistically by the Mazatec. Medicinally, it’s said to improve stomach ailments like “swollen belly” and diarrhea, as well as anemia and headaches.

It’s usually smoked or taken as a tincture and is so powerful that high doses can lead to complete loss of physical control. The trip is said to be colorful, light and full of laughter when taken properly.

Bufo alvarius

Not a plant, but natural nonetheless. The Bufo alvarius (Colorado river toad) is native to the state of Sonora, and it was used as far back as the Olmec period. Its skin secretes a powerful substance with high concentrations of 5-MeO-DMT, a substance that some believe is produced in the human pineal gland during birth, death, positive moods and REM sleep. It has not yet been scientifically proven to be present in humans, though animal studies have shown that trace amounts can be found in rats.

This medicine “stimulates the immune system and triggers healing by eliminating the emotional root of disease”, according to Emmanuele Rodríguez (IG @mandalacafe_), an ancestral medicine therapist in Mexico City.

The substance is crystallized and smoked in sessions lasting up to 15 minutes.

Note: If you plan on experimenting with psychedelics of any kind, please talk to a professional and please do so in the presence of an experienced practitioner.

Bethany Platanella is a travel and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. With her company, Active Escapes International, she plans and leads private and small-group active retreats. She loves Mexico’s local markets, Mexican slang, practicing yoga and fresh tortillas. Sign up for her (almost) weekly love letters or follow her Instagram account, @a.e.i.wellness.

FEMSA completes acquisition of fintech startup NetPay

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MND Staff

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April 4, 2023

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The Spin by Oxxo app was financed by Oxxo's parent company, FEMSA. — The conglomerate, best known for ownership of convenience store chain Oxxo, has taken further steps into the fintech sector with this acquisition.(Depositphotos)

FEMSA, the Coca-Cola bottler that owns the Oxxo convenience store chain, announced it has successfully closed on the acquisition of Mexican fintech startup NetPay. FEMSA had originally announced its intention to purchase the company in November.

NetPay, founded in 2008, offers payment services and solutions to micro, small and medium-sized businesses, such as payment terminals and electronic wallets. The company is based in Monterrey.

NetPay terminal — NetPay has offered digital payments services in the Mexican market since 2008. (@NetPayMX/Twitter)

According to a FEMSA statement sent to the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) in November, the acquisition will boost the company’s share in the fintech segment and the digital solutions markets as part of the company’s three strategic pillars – its Business-to-Business (B2B) division, Oxxo’s proprietary fintech Spin and the Oxxo Premia loyalty program.

FEMSA’s participation in NetPay dates from 2019, when the company acquired a minority equity stake in the startup. To buy the outstanding shares, the company closed a purchase deal with NetPay’s majority shareholders last year.

José Antonio Fernández Garza, CEO of FEMSA’s technology division Digital@FEMSA, said in November that the acquisition would help the company in its objective to transform “the relationship between the people of Mexico and their money,” and to help “independent entrepreneurs to strengthen their operations and increase their profitability.”

In 2021, FEMSA entered the fintech sector with their Spin by Oxxo service, which can be used to send and receive money from other Spin accounts, in addition to regular bank accounts and non-bank users. In February, the app had 5 million users and the company estimates it will reach up to 10 million this year.

There are over 20,000 Oxxo stores across Mexico and their loyalty program has 26 million users, according to analyst Marisol Huerta at Ve por Más bank in an interview with La Jornada newspaper.

FEMSA announced in February its decision to exit the brewery industry by selling its Heineken shares, prioritizing instead investment in the company’s most profitable businesses, such as the Oxxo convenience stores and digital services.

“Oxxo has managed to position itself as one of the main retail companies in the country,” said Huerta. “If there’s potential, they [FEMSA] always go after new businesses.”

With reports from El Economista, Bloomberg, La Jornada and El País

Experts raise public health and preservation concerns about Guanajuato mummies

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MND Staff

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April 4, 2023

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19th century mummies from Guanajuato at the Tianguis Turistico — The mummies were displayed as a part of the Guanajuato state stall at the Tianguis Turístico in Mexico City. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

“Watch out for those mummies!”

That’s pretty much what experts from Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) were screaming last week after a traveling display of six mummies from Guanajuato was presented in Mexico City.

Guanajuato Mummies — The Guanajuato mummies date back to the 19th century, and were preserved in the mineral-rich soil of the state. (ReyungCho/Wikimedia)

The mummies were displayed inside glass cases at the Tianguis Turístico, a four-day tourism fair, but officials from INAH expressed concerns that the 190-year-old corpses could pose a public health risk, especially since one of them appeared to have fungal growth.

INAH issued a statement on March 31 distancing itself from a decision by the state government of Guanajuato to display the mummies, saying it had not been consulted about the transfer and handling of the bodies and questioning whether the glass cases were airtight.

The mummies were reportedly viewed by more than 15,000 people during the 47th edition of the fair — Mexico’s biggest tourism industry event — held at the Centro Citibanamex convention center from March 26 to 29.

“It is even more worrisome that they are still being exhibited without the biohazard safeguards needed for the public,” the institute wrote, alluding to the dozens of corpses on permanent display at the Mummy Museum in the city of Guanajuato (which is not operated by INAH) — a visit to which is perhaps one of the most macabre experiences in the country.

A Guanajuato mummy on display — Some have expressed concern about the ethics of using corpses as an advertisement for tourism. (@aliasLIMBO/Twitter)

Upon seeing published photos of the six traveling mummies, INAH stated, officials observed that “at least one of the corpses on display, which was inspected by the institute in November 2021, shows signs of a proliferation of possible fungal colonies.”

In general, added INAH, the Guanajuato mummies should “be carefully studied to see if these represent signs of risk for the cultural patrimony, as well as for those who handle them and come to see them.”

The preserved corpses were unintentionally mummified when they were buried in crypts in Guanajuato’s dry, mineral-rich soil, reportedly in the 1830s. Some still have hair, leathery skin and their original clothing.

They were exhibited at the tourism fair without authorization from INAH, the agency stressed, although Guanajuato mayor Alejandro Navarro said he received thanks for the display from Miguel Torruco, Mexico’s tourism minister.

The mummies began to be dug up and put on display in the 1860s because their families could no longer pay a local “perpetual burial” fee.

They have been displayed in traveling exhibitions in previous years, including “The Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato,” which toured in the United States from late 2009 to early 2012. The Detroit Science Center produced the extensive exhibit of 36 mummies, which it then loaned to institutions in other cities such as Dallas and Greensboro, North Carolina.

“This may be the most important exhibit on Mexican culture in the last 30 years,” Martina Guzman, the exhibition’s content developer, said at the time.

Contrast that with the Popular Mechanics headline that appeared in the wake of the Mexico City display: “Ancient Mummies From Mexico Might Be Infecting Humans.”

Watch out for those mummies, indeed.

With reports from Associated Press, El Financiero and La Silla Rota

Genaro García Luna’s sentencing in US delayed until September

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MND Staff

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April 4, 2023

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Mexico's former security minister Genaro Garcia Luna — García Luna was convicted by U.S. prosecutors of international cocaine distribution, among other charges. His attorneys have been granted more time to pursue potentially favorable new evidence they say has come to light since the conviction in February. (File photo by Tercero Diaz/Cuartoscuro)

A federal judge in the United States has agreed to postpone the sentencing of former security minister Genaro García Luna, who was convicted on drug trafficking charges in February.

Judge Brian M. Cogan of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York granted defense lawyers’ request for a three-month adjournment for posttrial motions and the sentencing of their client, who was Mexico’s security minister in the 2006–2012 government led by former president Felipe Calderón and head of the now-defunct Federal Investigation Agency before that.

Juez Brian Cogan aceptó pedido de abogados de Genaro García Luna, amigo, asesor, confidente, mano derecha y Secretario de Seguridad Pública de @FelipeCalderon de aplazar 3 meses la fecha de su sentencia que ahora será el próximo 27 de septiembre. pic.twitter.com/HQUKnEYFeH

— J. Jesus Esquivel (@JJesusEsquivel) April 3, 2023

US federal judge Brian M. Cogan granted García Luna’s attorneys more time to pursue new evidence leads that could support planned motions requesting an acquittal and/or a new trial.

García Luna, who was found guilty of colluding with the notorious Sinaloa Cartel and lying to U.S. authorities, will now be sentenced on Sept. 27. He faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Defense lawyers, including the ex-official’s lead attorney César de Castro, wrote to Cogan on Monday to request the postponement so as “to permit the defense to continue developing evidence in support of a potential Rule 33 motion.”

Rule 33 in the U.S. Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure allows a court to grant a new trial “if the interest of justice so requires.”

De Castro and his colleagues wrote that since the guilty verdict was reached on Feb. 21, “several individuals, including former law enforcement officials, have contacted us with potential new evidence favorable to the defense that could result in the filing of a Rule 33 motion in the short term.”

US District Court, Eastern District of New York — Genaro, who remains in custody, was convicted in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of New York, seen here. (Shutterstock)

“Following these numerous substantial leads, potentially filing a Rule 29 [acquittal] motion, and preparing for significant sentencing advocacy is too difficult,” they wrote.

“Rather than proceed with Mr. García Luna’s sentencing and initiation of an appeal, which would divest the Court of jurisdiction to hear the motion until the Second Circuit granted a motion to remand the case to Your Honor … the appropriate use of resources would be to simply adjourn the dates as we request,” the letter continued.

“After all, the government is not prejudiced in any way — Mr. García Luna is not at liberty and will remain detained.”

Under the new posttrial timeline, any application for a new trial must be submitted by July 7.

García Luna’s conviction in February came more than three years after he was arrested in Dallas, Texas, on charges that he allowed the Sinaloa Cartel to operate in exchange for multimillion-dollar bribes.

A jury in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York found the former security minister guilty of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, international cocaine distribution conspiracy; cocaine distribution and possession conspiracy; cocaine importation conspiracy; and making a false statement on an application for U.S. citizenship.

President Lopez Obrador with image of ex-security minister Genaro Garcia Luna — President López Obrador, seen here at a press conference on March 9, has used the García Luna trial to support his assertions that during the ex-security minister’s tenure under President Felipe Calderón, Mexico was a “narco-state.” (Galo Cañas Rodríguez/Cuartoscuro)

The unanimous decision came after an almost month-long trial that included damning testimony from cartel figures such as Jesús “El Rey” Zambada, brother of current Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada.

President López Obrador has used the conviction to support his claim that Mexico was a “narco-state” during the presidency of Calderón.

The former president has denied having any knowledge of García Luna’s criminal activities, and defended his integrity and crime-fighting record in a statement issued in response to the conviction of his security minister.

De Castro asserted in his closing statement at the trial that the government’s lack of evidence against his client was “shocking.”

“They’re asking you to condemn a man solely on the words of some of the most notorious and ruthless criminals this world has ever seen,” he told the 12-person jury.

With reports from Sin Embargo

Semana Santa begins: what to expect during Mexico’s Easter break

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MND Staff

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April 3, 2023

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Semana santa religious ceremony, as a man dressed in white carries a cross. — In many places across Mexico, Holy Week, which marks the lead up into Easter Sunday on April 9, kicked off with Palm Sunday processions. According to Christian tradition, Palm Sunday is when Jesus entered Jerusalem. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

Holy Week (Semana Santa), the week leading into Easter Sunday, is an important time of year in Mexico. Visitors to the country might be surprised to discover that many businesses and public institutions will be closed on Thursday April 6 and Friday April 7 — Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and that Mexicans will be celebrating not only during Semana Santa but the week starting after Easter Sunday, known as pascua.

Although not government-sanctioned holidays, many Mexicans traditionally take at least Holy Thursday and Good Friday off, giving themselves an unofficial puente (long weekend). As many Mexicans will take these days off anyway, many businesses simply close for the long weekend — maybe going on vacation themselves. You may find a sign on your favorite restaurant or local store saying “closed for Semana Santa.” Don’t expect them to be open until at least Easter Monday.

A beach in Cancun — With schools out for two weeks, many families look to spend time making the most of their vacations. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

Even many banks have announced that they will be closed this year on April 6 and 7. ATMs will remain in service, however.

As usual, the Education Ministry (SEP) has given students a two-week break, which already started Monday and lasts through April 14. (Some private schools not affiliated with SEP may follow an alternative calendar.) This means families who can afford to take off Holy Week or even both weeks for beach vacation or travel abroad.

Spending Holy Week with family is also traditional, and families often travel around the country to do so, meaning that this time of year sees high volumes of traffic on roads and at airports, so plan accordingly.

If you beat the traffic, however, you can look forward to a country that is fully in the holiday spirit, with beaches, monuments and parks likely to be full of vacationers looking to make the most of a rare week off work.

Youth getting ready for a Holy Week procession dressed as Roman soldier — A young man prepares to play an ancient Roman soldier in a Holy Week procession later this week in Itzapalapa, Mexico City. The neighborhood will mark its 180th consecutive iteration of the event this week. (Graciela Lopez Herrera/Cuartoscuro)

Semana Santa can also be a perfect time to visit a normally busy place, like Mexico City for example — exactly because residents have left the megalopolis.

Whether you stay at home or travel yourself, wherever you are, Holy Week festivities will be taking place across the country in your area. They started already on Sunday, in fact, which was Palm Sunday.

According to Catholic tradition, the day marks Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, and so in town squares all over Mexico, there are processions recreating this biblical event, and vendors often sell palm fronds and all sorts of food, souvenirs and toys to visiting tourists or people-watching locals.

While many Mexicans will spend Semana Santa reclining on a beach, for those foreigners looking to immerse themselves in Mexican culture, there is a lot to discover this week, as the nation celebrates.

From elaborate processions reenacting the Stations of the Cross to the devout making intense public displays of faith, to fireworks fueling sputtering castillos and “exploding” Judases, there will likely be something interesting to see in your town square on many days of Holy Week.

Normal hours for most businesses and institutions will resume on Easter Monday, April 10.

With reports from Infobae and El Financiero

Feast or famine: getting ready for the snowbird exodus

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Janet Blaser

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April 3, 2023

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birds flying in formation — If you live in an expat enclave in Mexico, you're likely familiar with the phenomenon: around this time of year, many of your friends prepare to leave and spend the spring and summer in their home countries. (@suegresham/depositphotos)

No doubt about it, the expat enclaves in Mexico are full.

Restaurants, charity events, the charming cobblestone streets in Centro Histórico, grocery stores, the mercados, the theater and all the beaches … “We” are everywhere, in great numbers.

It happens every year at this time, and although it’s exciting and contagiously fun, it’s also a little bittersweet. It means we’ve reached the high point of our seasonal cycle, and the pendulum will soon start swinging back in the other direction.

If you live in one of these towns or cities, you know what I mean: people begin leaving, or making plans to leave, setting up last lunches and get-togethers, buying things to take back up north, getting their properties ready for the summer ahead.

As one-who-stays, I’m already planning for the summer months too, albeit in different ways. I’ll have my air conditioners cleaned and checked, put the extra bed covers away and start getting ready to change my schedule so that shopping, outdoor exercise and errands are done early in the morning rather than later in the day, before it gets too hot.

Reading is a big part of my summer life, and I’m thankful to those who bring new books when they come and then leave them here for those of us who might not travel back and forth so much. Yes, I have a Kindle, but I always prefer a real book experience, if at all possible.

I just finished Willa Cather’s classic, “The Song of the Lark,” originally published in 1915. It’s a sweet, simple story of a young farm girl gifted with a beautiful singing voice, and her struggles to learn more about music and get the training she desperately wants. Seeing her natural talent, a music teacher encourages her to go to Europe to learn from the best. “But how?” she asks.

“Nothing is far and nothing is near, if one desires,” he tells her. “The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing — desire. And before it, when it is big, all is little.”

This month, in between everything else you’re doing, I hope you find time to sit quietly and think about your own desires, your own dreams. Because, really, what could be more worthwhile or valuable to think about, to plan and direct one’s energy toward?

Those, more than anything else we do or say or accomplish, are what makes us exclusively and distinctly “us,” and what satisfies our soul like nothing else. And for most of us, whether we’re snowbirds or full-timers, moving to Mexico was one of those dreams that’s now been realized. Are we better people for it? I’d say yes — unequivocally and joyfully yes.

Janet Blaser is the author of the best-selling book, Why We Left: An Anthology of American Women Expats, featured on CNBC and MarketWatch. She has lived in Mexico since 2006. You can find her on Facebook.

Majority still approve of electoral institute, but disapproval mounts

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MND Staff

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April 3, 2023

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Guadalupe Taddei is sworn in as new leader of the INE — Guadalupe Taddei was officially sworn in as the new INE president on Monday. Outgoing president Lorenzo Córdova had a 41% approval rating as he finished his nine-year tenure, according to El Financiero's poll. (Instituto Nacional Electoral / Cuartoscuro.com)

Fewer than six in ten Mexicans approve of the work carried out by the National Electoral Institute (INE), according to the results of a poll published Monday.

A national survey conducted by the El Financiero newspaper found an approval rating of 59% for the elections oversight agency, a decline of nine points compared to October 2022.

The publication of the poll comes as INE president Lorenzo Córdova concludes his nine-year tenure at the helm of the autonomous body.

Only 41% of those polled said they approved of the work Córdova has done as Mexico’s electoral chief, while 53% said they disapproved.

Both the INE and its staff have faced repeated attacks from President López Obrador, who recently called Córdova “an anti-democratic character.”

López Obrador claims that the INE’s predecessor, the Federal Electoral Institute, permitted electoral fraud that cost him the 2006 and 2012 presidential elections. A legislative proposal submitted by the president to reform the INE was approved in February but the Supreme Court suspended the application of the relevant laws in late March.

Anti-electoral-reform protesters in Jalisco, Mexico — Protesters in cities all over Mexico showed up in the streets to express support for a robust National Electoral Institute in February. (Photo by Fernando Carranza García)

Hundreds of thousands of Mexicans took to the streets in late February to protest the so-called “Plan B” reform package – which critics consider a threat to Mexico’s democracy – and demonstrate their support for the INE.

But the results of El Financiero’s poll show that confidence in the agency’s capacity to organize elections has waned since October, when 68% of respondents approved of its election organization work. The percentage of poll respondents who disapproved of the INE increased from 29% to 38% in the same period.

Just over half of those polled – 53% – said they approve of the work the INE and the Federal Electoral Tribunal do to supervise electoral processes in Mexico, a decline of 10 points since October. The percentage of respondents who disapprove of their supervisory work increased by nine points in the same period to 43%.

Approval for Córdova’s work was highest among poll respondents who identified as supporters of Mexico’s opposition parties, among which are the National Action Party (PAN) and Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Two-thirds of such respondents said they approved of Córdova’s work, while the figure among supporters of the ruling Morena party was 44%.

When Guadalupe Taddei was head of the Sonora Electoral Institute, the National Action Party accused her of favoring Morena and its allies in 2021’s state electoral process. (Photo courtesy of IEE Sonora)

Interestingly, Córdova’s approval rating among non-aligned respondents was just 33%, while 59% of that group said they disapproved of the outgoing INE president.

El Financiero also asked poll respondents about their confidence in the process to replace Córdova and three outgoing electoral councilors.

The survey was conducted on March 24 and 25, a week before the election of four INE officials, including new president Guadalupe Taddei. Typically, candidates need support from two-thirds of lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies to be elected. After failing to reach a majority, the Chamber resorted to sortition, or the drawing of lots, to elect its new members.

Forty-seven percent of respondents said they were very or somewhat confident in the process to elect replacements, while the same percentage said they had little or no confidence in it.

The process, which resulted in the nomination of 20 candidates for four positions, was carried out by a “technical committee” made up of seven members of civil society.

Three-quarters of Morena party supporters expressed trust in the process, while the percentage of opposition supporters and non-partisan respondents who said the same was just 39% and 36%, respectively.

The election of Taddei – who on Monday became the first woman to lead Mexico’s electoral agency – has been criticized as two of Taddei’s relatives hold government positions and another is a Morena lawmaker in the state of Sonora.

The PAN said it would challenge the election of Taddei and one of the incoming electoral councilors due to their “clear links” to the Morena party, which was founded by López Obrador as a civil society association in 2011 before becoming a political party in 2014.

With reports from El Financiero

Pilot of hot air balloon that caught fire, killing 2, arrested

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MND Staff

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April 3, 2023

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Remains of hot air balloon accident in Mexico state — Remains of the balloon that caught fire and crashed in a field in Mexico state on Sunday. In the balloon was a pilot and a couple and their teenage daughter. Only the pilot and the daughter survived. (Alerta Copoya/Facebook)

México state authorities have located the pilot of a hot-air balloon involved in an accident Saturday, in which a married couple was killed and their teenage daughter injured.

The basket of the balloon caught fire Saturday morning, as it flew near the Teotihuacán archaeological site, located about 50 kilometers northeast of central Mexico City.

Site of hot air balloon crash in Teotihuacán — Site of the crash in Teotihuacán. The red fabric is a screen that emergency personnel set up to cordon off the site. (Rogelio Morales Ponce / Cuartoscuro.com)

Video footage shows a ball of fire engulfing the basket and at least one person plummeting toward the ground.

José Nolasco, 50, and Viridiana Becerril, 39, died, while their 13-year-old daughter Regina sustained first- and second-degree burns and a broken arm, according to authorities in México state, where Teotihuacán is located.

Regina was transported to a hospital in Axapusco, México state, and later transferred to the Children’s Hospital in the state capital, Toluca. She is reportedly in stable condition.

According to reports, Becerril threw herself from the basket when it was 10–15 meters above the ground while Nolasco remained in the basket and was burned to death.

Grandmother of survivor of hot-air balloon accident near Teotihuacan — Regina’s grandmother, Reyna Sarmiento Lara, told reporters Sunday that her grandaughter was conscious and that in addition to her other reported injuries, Regina had second-degree burns from the accident. (Screen capture)

Regina jumped from the basket when it was about 5 meters above the ground, while the pilot jumped when it was approximately 4 meters above the ground, W Radio reported.

The México state Attorney General’s Office (FGJEM) said in a statement Sunday that police had located the pilot in a hospital in Hidalgo, where he was receiving medical treatment for extensive burns.

The FGJEM said that police from México state and Hidalgo were guarding the pilot, who has been identified in media reports as Víctor Guzmán Pérez.

The newspaper El Financiero reported that Guzmán told police that he fled after jumping from the balloon’s basket because he had no experience responding to emergency situations and didn’t know what to do.

The FGJEM said it was “maintaining permanent contact with the family members of the victims,” adding that it has provided support to them “in the face of this terrible situation.”

The office said it was working with state and federal authorities to establish the cause of what it considered to be a crime.

Family caught in hot-air balloon accident near Teotihuacan. — From left to right: José Nolasco, Viridiana Becerril and their daughter, Regina. Nolasco and Becerril died in the accident. Regina leaped from the hot-air balloon when it was at 5 meters above ground and survived with injuries. (Social media)

The statement also said that the FGJEM has seized properties “allegedly related to the company” that provided the hot-air balloon flight – identified as Autocinema Retrovisor – and is carrying out a thorough investigation aimed at determining what happened on Saturday and establishing criminal responsibility.

Nolasco and his daughter planned the hot-air balloon flight as a celebration for Becerril’s birthday, according to Becerril’s mother, Reyna Sarmiento Lara. Sarmiento told reporters on Sunday that her granddaughter was already conscious and had second-degree burns.

The family reportedly traveled from their home in Mexico City to the municipality of San Juan Teotihuacán to take a flight over Teotihuacán, the pre-Hispanic city known for its two towering pyramids.

There have been several other hot-air balloon accidents in the Teotihuacán area, where flying over the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon is a popular tourist activity.

Nine people were injured in another crash in November 2021. Another accident occurred last September, but no injuries were reported.

The Teotihuacán Hot-Air Balloon Association said in a statement that the company that owned the balloon involved in Saturday’s accident is not among its eight members that “operate within all applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.”

With reports from El Financiero, El País, El Universal, Infobae, Excélsior and W Radio

Medical tourism growth, AI concierges, new flights: highlights from Tianguis Turístico 2023

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MND Staff

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April 3, 2023

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Tianguis Dinosaur Coahuila — The Tianguis Turístico allowed Mexican states to advertise their tourist potential to investors and businesses across the world. Here, the state of Coahuila advertises itself as a site for tourism related to dinosaurs and fossils. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

The largest tourism fair in Latin America came to a close with record sales as reported by Mexico’s Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco.

The Tianguis Turístico, which gathered businesses from across the tourism industry, “broke all records in terms of business appointments, participation of buyers and representation of nations,” Torruco said, citing preliminary reports.

Tianguis Turistico in Mexico; a man dances in a hall of mirrors — The Tianguis Turistico saw the best of Mexico come together to discuss the future of the sector and attract investment. Here a man advertises tourism on the Yucatán Peninsula. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Companies and local governments used the four-day event to announce new tourism-related initiatives and products and traveling opportunities.

According to Torruco, preliminary sales numbers reached US $68.5 million — an 87% increase from the 2022 fair held in Acapulco.

“The event marked a milestone for tourism in the country and in the history of the tourism fair itself,” Torruco said.

Ninety countries from five continents attended the event, involving 2,338 buyers and 1,383 companies, the ministry said. The fair, which allows registered participants to make appointments in advance with business participants at the event, saw close to 90,000 such appointments scheduled.

Organizers attributed that number to a 34% increase in people attending the fair as buyers. Torruco said that 53% of those business appointments ended in sales.

Companies and local governments used the four-day event to announce new tourism-related initiatives and products and traveling opportunities, including announcements about new airline routes and the use of technology in the tourism industry, as we highlight below.

Viva Aerobus announces new Querétaro-Los Cabos flight

With three flights per week starting in July, the airline Viva Aerobus will launch a new route from Querétaro to Los Cabos, Baja California Sur.

An airbus A320 takes off into the evening — Viva Aerobus also anticipates the delivery of 28 more A321 aircraft. (Viva Aerobus)

According to the government of Querétaro, Los Cabos is one of the most requested destinations by airport users. Authorities anticipate about 45,000 people per year will fly the new route.

“[The new route] will allow us to place and promote Querétaro in a market that, naturally, we do not have. With this new flight, Querétaro will be able to offer new travelers all our products,” Minister of Tourism for Querétaro Adriana Vega said during the announcement.

The route will use Airbus A320 aircraft, which can accommodate up to 186 passengers.

ChatGPT recommends Mexico as a tourist destination

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Grupo Carso Carlos Slim Domit (billionaire Carlos Slim Helú’s son) told audiences in a keynote address at the fair that he had tried out Open AI’s ChatGPT software and that it had good things to say about Mexico.

Slim Domit said he’d asked the chatbot the question: “Do you recommend visiting Mexico?”

The chatbot responded in the affirmative, he said.

Tourists swim and lounge on a Cancún beach. — Chat GPT says Mexico is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. (David Vives / Unsplash)

The AI (artificial intelligence) software told Slim Domit that Mexico has “a lot to offer.”

From modern cities to historical towns, mountains and seaside villages, ChatGPT said, “there’s something for everyone in Mexico,” and “Mexico is a great place to go if you’re looking to travel somewhere.”

Slim Domit said that technology is no longer an option but a necessity in the tourism industry and that it’s imperative to explore ways of using it. Tourism companies, he said, should use artificial intelligence to create personalized experiences for their clients.

Mexican states promote medical tourism

The northern, Bajío and western regions of the country are developing strategies to take advantage of increasing medical tourism.

In an interview with newspaper El Economista during the fair, San Miguel de Allende’s head of economic and tourism development Tania Castillo said that the most important destinations in the country are experiencing an economic boom in this sector. Her city is getting involved as well, she said.

New City Medical Plaza, Tijuana — Mexico is rapidly becoming a destination for medical tourists, with modern facilities designed to attract people from across the world. (archdaily.mx)

Castillo cited the Guanajuato city’s planned Alquería WTC San Miguel de Allende, a World Trade Center campus that in addition to businesses, will include a dedicated medical tourism hospital — which Castillo claimed will be the first such facility of its kind in Mexico.

Construction is anticipated to start this spring.

Medical tourism for cosmetic procedures is in increasing demand in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, particularly from Canadian and U.S. citizens, said Sujey Cardenas, head of public relations for Puerto Vallarta’s Tourism Promotion Trust.

Baja California is also a hot spot for medical tourism. About 10% of tourism in the state belongs to this category, and double-digit rates are expected for the rest of 2023. Tijuana and Ensenada are building 15 complexes to accommodate this new breed of tourist.

With reports from El Economista, InfoBae, El Economista, El Economista

French car parts manufacturer invests US $147M in Mexico plant

By

MND Staff

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April 3, 2023

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The new factory in Nuevo Leon will produce millions of car sets by 2025 under the brand Faurecia. (@_JosePerales/Twitter)

The French auto part manufacturer Forvia has opened a new US $147 million plant in the northern state of Nuevo León.

Forvia, which produces car seating and interiors for major international brands, hopes that the creation of their new Apodaca plant will allow for the export of more than 2 million full sets of car seats per year in 2025.

Faurecia opening ceremony, Nuevo Leon — The opening ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the government of Nuevo León. (Forvia)

The company is aiming to double its manufacturing capacity by the end of 2023. Clients of Forvia include the automakers Volvo and Stellantis.

“This new facility positions us to deliver exceptional value to our customers and enhances our mission to pioneer technology for mobility experiences that matter to people,” said Nik Endrud, Forvia executive vice president of the Americas.

The company believes that the plant’s opening, under the Faurecia brand, represents a “true milestone” for the business. Forvia is currently ranked as the global leader in the industry, with a 16% market share.

A number of state dignitaries were in attendance at the opening ceremony, including Governor Samuel García and Nuevo León Economy Minister Ivan Rivas.

The new factory is yet another development in the nearshoring boom that has seen significant investment in Mexico as a global manufacturing center — especially the state of Nuevo León.

The state has rapidly become a hub for the automotive industry, according to Rivas. One hundred twenty-five of its recent high-level investments have been in the sector.

Like other developments opening in the region, the new factory will also adhere to modern sustainability standards, to help fight the chronic water shortages that have plagued much of Mexico.

“Our investment supports key sustainability initiatives in the fields of bioclimatic design, energy efficiency, and water recovery. This is why we are pleased to share with you that this new plant is certified as a green building,” said Jean-Paul Michel, executive vice president of the interiors division, told the business publication Mexico Industry.

With reports from Reuters and Mexico Industry