Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - President Enrique Peña Nieto, along with Federal Tourism Secretary Enrique de la Madrid and Mexico Tourism Board CEO Héctor Flores Santana, inaugurated the 43rd edition of Tianguis Turístico, which opened at the Mazatlán International Center on Sunday and concludes Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Since 1975, Tianguis Turístico has been the largest tourism showcase in all of Mexico attracting hundreds of local exhibitors, and thousands of international buyers every year. The 43rd annual edition welcomed companies and tourism personnel from 54 countries as well as key figures from the domestic industry and federal and state politicians.

A key focus for the Mexico Tourism Board at this year's event is promoting the Mundo Maya (Maya World) initiative that aims to increase visitor numbers to the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Yucatán. Collectively, the five states are home to 47 different indigenous groups and a wealth of cultural, archeological, gastronomic and natural attractions.

The event will feature a handicrafts exhibition, and a national photography competition, México en una imagen (Mexico in one image), will be launched. For many, however, the highlight of this year's Tianguis will be a performance by Cirque du Soleil of their newest show, "Luzia: A waking dream of Mexico," which the new theme park coming to Nuevo Vallarta will be centered around.

Cirque du Soleil president Daniel Lamarre, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and American Airlines CEO Doug Parker will be among the most prominent international attendees at the four-day event.

Almost 70 CEOs from prestigious international companies, including Air Canada Vacations, American Airlines Vacations, Apple Leisure Group, Classic Vacations, Expedia, Trip Advisor and WestJet have also confirmed they will attend the event, along with representatives from 477 international companies, 204 national companies and tour operators, (including Puerto Vallarta's own Nancy Real of RealWorldTravels.com) and 1,100 travel purchasers.

"Our expectation is that this year's event will generate an economic spillover of more than 350 million pesos [about $19.3 million USD] and hotel occupation will be at 100%. Without a doubt, these figures reflect the entire industry's interest in [Mexican] tourism... and that will definitely benefit our country," Flores Santana said in a pre-Tianguis interview with Milenio reporter Rosa Emillia Porras Lara.