Mexico City, Mexico - Immigration procedures are being streamlined to make it easier for tourists from the United States to visit Mexico, the Mexican government said.

Mexico will now have "simpler and expedited" procedures for US tourists, the Tourism Secretariat said in a statement.

Tourism Secretary Claudia Ruiz Massieu discussed the new procedures with United States Customs and Border Protection deputy commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski in Washington, the secretariat said.

The officials discussed progress made in the Global Entry program, which makes it easier for trusted travelers to enter the country.

"With the main goal of bringing a greater number of tourists from the United States to Mexico, our country will streamline its immigration procedures to make them simpler and expedited," the secretariat said.

Mexico welcomed about 8 million tourists, with half of these visitors arriving by air, between January and April, official figures show.