Cozumel, Mexico – On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, Carnival Cruise Lines signed a commitment to invest more than $150 million USD for the expansion of port infrastructure at destinations on Mexico’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts, within the framework of the National Agreement for Tourism.

Carnival Cruise Lines President and CEO Gerard Cahill and Mexico's Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara Manzo signed the commitment at Puerto Maya, on the Caribbean island of Cozumel, during a ceremony that was attended by President Felipe Calderón.

Cahill said that Mexico is an attractive destination for the development of tourist business and an important partner for Carnival.

"Mexico is an attractive destination for the development of tourist business and an important partner for Carnival."

His company has invested $100 million USD in Mexico, and plans to develop two new projects, including a cruise terminal at Calica and another one in South Baja California. The new ports will generate more direct and indirect jobs in the tourist sector and will increase the arrival of cruise passengers to Mexico.

Although as of late Thursday a final agreement has not yet been signed, the announcement couldn’t have come at a better time for Mexican tourism and port officials who are in south Florida for the Cruise Shipping Miami conference, seeking more cruise tourism and trying to get across the message that Mexico is safe for cruisers.

Tourism industry leaders in the Caribbean resort city of Cancun, meanwhile, called on Calderón to back the campaign to counter the constant travel alerts for Mexico being issued by US authorities. Cancun and the Riviera Maya welcome an average of 50,000 students from across the United States during spring break each year.

President Calderón affirmed that tourism is an important economic generator, but more importantly, it is a source of higher paying jobs. Tourism wages are 30% higher than the average job in Mexico. Also, the tourism industry hires more women than other industries.

Calderón emphasized that the federal government has set the goal of becoming the fifth-most-visited country in the world by 2015. "For this reason, I congratulate Carnival and I recognize the significance of the decision that Carnival made to invest in our country," Calderón said.

Secretary Manzo said that Mexico is living an historic moment for tourism. She said that thanks to the National Agreement of Tourism, Mexico has become a model for other nations, one that has been manifested in international efforts from such countries as Spain, Germany, Colombia, and Brazil.