Antonio Cosío Pando, president of the National Tourist Business Council (CNET), said he has as a goal to return to Mexico to the fifth world place in collection of tourists, despite the fact that there are challenges to overcome as the lack of promotion, the bad country image and insecurity.
“The goal we have raised, get Mexico to return to the fifth world place in tourist collection, will only be attainable if we design an innovative, joint and well-focused strategy,” he said in his first speech as president of the CNET for the 2025-2028 period.
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Although it is almost impossible to cover from the private sector what corresponded to the State, it is necessary to be creative, add efforts and find new formulas that allow to reposition Mexico and be more competitive globally, said the hotelier.
He also stressed that it is necessary to look at responsibility for the infrastructure projects inherited by the sector: the Mayan Train, the Felipe Ángeles International Airport and the new Mexican Aviation.
“Beyond its cost, our challenge will be to find how these investments really work, become profitable and become allies of tourism,” added the businessman.
Today the Annual Ordinary General Assembly of the CNET chose the general director of Grupo Brisas instead of Braulio Arsuaga Losada, who was in charge of this business body of February 2020 until today.
Antonio Cosío Pando is an industrial and systems engineer graduated from the Technological and Higher Studies of Monterrey (ITESM).
He is the general director of Grupo Brisas, a family business dedicated to the operation of luxury hotels, including the Brisas in Acapulco, Ixtapa and Huatulco; The Nizuc Resort & Spa in Cancun, and the hotel chain Gallery Plaza, with presence in Mexico City, Nuevo León, Guanajuato and Veracruz.
Since 2019 is part of the Mexican Business Council, a private civil association that brings together the most influential entrepreneurs and leaders in Mexico, with the aim of promoting social welfare and economic development of the country. His participation in this agency has allowed him to position tourism on the National Agenda in the highest -ranking organs.
He is currently treasurer and member of the CNET Advisory Council and was also treasurer of the National Association of Hotel Chains (Anch).
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Antonio Cosío Pando said that his management will revolve around three central axes: safe tourism, digital tourism and regenerative tourism.
He explained that safe tourism is extremely necessary, since without security there is no possible development, so it will be responsible for strengthening coordination with each association to address problems regionally, and return confidence to investors and travelers.
Digital tourism to bet on innovation, artificial intelligence and technological platforms to increase our international visibility.
Regenerative tourism will also be crucial, he said, so that it is not only preserved, but to regenerate ecosystems, revitalize communities and rescue traditions and cultural heritage, to leave a positive mark on each destination.
“This is not a personal commission, it is a collective commitment, backed by the will and participation of each of you. During the last weeks I have met with the presidents of cameras and associations that make up this assembly and part of the advisory council.”
“These meetings allowed me to listen to their diagnoses, their concerns, their strengths and also their proposals. Thanks to that frank and constructive dialogue, today I have a route that reflects the vision and needs of our entire sector and not only of an individual voice,” said the new president of the CNET.
Cosío Pando declared that today the tourism sector faces various challenges, including the lack of promotion, the bad country image, insecurity and loss of participation in international markets.
Given these challenges, he stressed that the unit is more necessary than ever to transform threats into opportunities.
