Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, Secretary of Tourism in Mexico City Photo: Dong Feng/GT

Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, Mexico City's tourism secretary and former cultural minister of Mexico, has been promoting the city's travel scheme for Chinese tourists in Guangzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai during her recent trip to China. 

In her exclusive interview with the Global Times, Frausto said that China is not just another market, but a cultural partner with whom we share a forward-looking vision.

At the Embassy of Mexico in China, on November 21, Frausto told the Global Times that she has been talking to local authorities to recommend some customized tourism schemes for Chinese tourists in 2026. 

Mexico and China share a very special sensitivity toward memory, nature, and spirituality, she started.  

"I would recommend experiences that reveal the deepest heart of Mexico City: In each of the city's 16 boroughs, there are festivals and celebrations every single day, where the community welcomes you as family," said Frausto.

For major international events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Formula 1 race, many Chinese fans might be keen to attend. However, visa processes can sometimes be a barrier. Frausto said that the visa policy might be updated. 

"In coordination with the Government of Mexico, we are working to make the arrival of international visitors as smooth as possible, including, of course, travelers from China.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, special mechanisms are currently being reviewed," she told the Global Times. 

Good food is a vital part of any travel experience. Chinese tourists are no exception from this. Frausto said that Mexico City is now one of the world's great gastronomic capitals. 

As for mobile payment, the city is also upgrading its schemes, Frausto said.

"To make Mexico City a fully digital-payment-friendly destination for Chinese visitors, we are currently working with venues, businesses, and banks to expand the acceptance of electronic and cashless payments during major events, as well as to strengthen the infrastructure for international card terminals," she elaborated. 

Additionally, Frausto introduced that tailored convenience measures will be in place for Chinese tourists during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and Formula 1 race, building a true China-focused hospitality strategy for the World Cup and for long-term tourism. 

The tourism official also shared that Mexico's long-term vision for the Chinese tourism market is strategic for both Mexico City and the country, "not only because of its size, but also because of the profound cultural sensibility we share."

She confirmed that the city's vision is clear: to build a long-term relationship, to strengthen air connectivity, and to develop specialized tourism products, from cultural routes to community-based experiences.

"Mexico and China are sister civilizations, united by their ancestral wisdom and their capacity for reinvention. In both nations, the land is a teacher and memory is a guide. In both, community is the heart of culture. We both understand that to modernize does not mean to forget, but to find new languages for the same truths: respect, harmony, gratitude toward nature, and the conviction that no progress is real if it leaves anyone behind," she elaborated.