Introduction to Rodrigo Esponda and His Role
Rodrigo Esponda, the General Manager of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (Fiturca), has been actively promoting meetings tourism as a key strategy to capitalize on new opportunities amidst the reduction of international tourists at the beginning of 2025.
Current Tourism Situation in Los Cabos
According to data from the Grupo Aeroportuario de Pacífico (GAP), Los Cabos airport received 1,382,900 international tourists during the first quarter of 2025, marking a 1.8% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.
Esponda’s Focus on Meetings Tourism
Esponda emphasizes the importance of meetings tourism, stating that it is a crucial industry to focus on despite the decrease in international tourists. He aims to showcase Los Cabos’ value proposition for congresses and conventions, differentiating it from other destinations in the United States.
Creation of the Conventions, Meetings, Incentives, and Exhibitions (CMIE) Cluster
To strengthen meetings tourism, Esponda and Fiturca established the Conventions, Meetings, Incentives, and Exhibitions (CMIE) Cluster in Los Cabos, the only one of its kind in Mexico. This cluster will eventually operate independently with the support of Fiturca, bringing together all relevant stakeholders in the meetings tourism value chain.
Key Players and Support
The CMIE Cluster includes representatives from every aspect of the meetings tourism value chain, such as associations and organizations (e.g., engineers or medical professionals). These experts have in-depth knowledge of significant national and international events.
Esponda also collaborates with Eduardo Chaillo, a meetings tourism expert, to further enhance Los Cabos’ position in this sector. Both have extensive experience working for the now-defunct Consejo de Promoción Turística de México (CPTM).
Challenges and Strategies in 2025
Regarding the initial results of 2025, Esponda acknowledges a slight decrease in arrivals since 2019. However, he views this as an opportunity to focus on quality rather than quantity in attracting visitors.
Despite the current situation, Esponda and his team actively participate in global tourism events to highlight Los Cabos’ strengths, targeting key international markets such as the United States and Canada.
Their strategic plan includes intensive efforts in eight countries: Brazil, Colombia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the role of Rodrigo Esponda in Los Cabos’ tourism sector? Rodrigo Esponda is the General Manager of the Los Cabos Tourism Trust (Fiturca) and has been actively promoting meetings tourism as a key strategy to capitalize on new opportunities amidst the reduction of international tourists.
- What is the Conventions, Meetings, Incentives, and Exhibitions (CMIE) Cluster? The CMIE Cluster is a unique initiative in Los Cabos, established by Fiturca with the support of key stakeholders in the meetings tourism value chain. It aims to strengthen Los Cabos’ position in this sector and differentiate it from other destinations.
- Which countries is Los Cabos focusing on for meetings tourism? Los Cabos is targeting eight countries for meetings tourism: Brazil, Colombia, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan.
