Mexico City brings its unique flavour to Toronto

If your idea of a Mexican vacation involves a cosmopolitan, industrially-diverse, culturally rich, gastronomic paradise, you’ll love Mexico City.

If, however, your idea of a Mexican vacation involves stretches of sandy beaches, bottomless margaritas and the crispy, reddened backs of sunbaked tourists, you need Mexico City.

Fortunately, the Mexico City Tourism Trust (CDMX) is currently looking to increase the number of Canadians flying into the country’s capital (as opposed to those flying toward its coast) and stopped by Toronto last night to spread the word.

“Of course, Mexico as a whole is a beautiful country,” Priscila Flores, leading coordinator of project marketing for CDMX told PAX. “But we’re here to put out the word about what Mexico City is doing to be a modern, must-visit destination.”

Using the city’s reputation for varied and unique Mexican flavours as a jumping-off point for its other qualities, CDMX held the media gathering at El Catrin, an authentic Mexican restaurant (whose executive chef, Olivier Le Calves, hails from Mexico City) in Toronto’s Distillery District.

Guests joyfully struggled to juggle ceviche, cocktails and smartphones amidst a flurry of grand prize-motivated social media postings, while Ricardo Goria, deputy director of international public relations for CDMX, regaled the room with reasons why Mexico City should move to the top of everyone’s bucket lists.

For one, it’s already at the top of The New York Times’; the acclaimed publication rated the capital as number one in its list of places to go in 2016. Similarly, Conde Nast Traveler named Mexico City among the top five most-Googled travel destinations this year. According to Goria, it also identifies as one of the most youthful cities in the world, thanks to its rapidly growing design, fashion and culinary scenes.

“Mexico City is a very special place,” Goria said. “It’s a thriving metropolis, and the heart of Mexico’s business, arts, culture and education industries.”

It’s also got 183 museums (the most in the world after London, England), four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and three restaurants included on The Diners Club 'World’s 50 Best Restaurants' website – to say nothing of its street food.

Famous for its annual 'Day of the Dead' celebration which takes place this weekend, Mexico City is also one of the largest cities in the world, and reachable from Canada with more than 40 weekly flights from Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto.

According to Goria, the Canadian market represents an important sector for the city’s tourism, but that the Canadian mindset – which tends to head southbound mainly for beach and all-inclusive-related purposes – could use a little tweaking.

“Canadian interest in Mexico City increased by 30 per cent in 2016,” Goria told PAX, adding that while this may not be the largest number when it comes to snowbirds travelling to Mexico, CDMX still considers it a victory when taking into account Canadians’ archetypal view of the country as a beach destination.

Something that may help is the fact that Mexico City sits above the altitude set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is therefore not an area at risk for the dreaded Zika virus, according to cnsnews.com.

It’s also a gay-friendly city; the LGBT Confex’s sixth edition of its International Business & Tourism Forum is set to take place in the capital this week.

Goria acknowledged that while it may be difficult for agents to alter their Canadian clients’ preconceived notions about an oceanfront vacation this winter, a three-day stopover in Mexico City as a pre- or post-stay option might be an agreeable way to broaden their horizons.