IPN's School of Tourism Celebrates 52nd Anniversary

Reporter: Enrique Soto / Photographer: Jorge Aguilar

The three-day celebration features keynote lectures, an industry career fair, and cultural, artistic, and athletic activities.

Addressing the urgent need to reshape marketing strategies to attract European and Asian travel markets, integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital innovation, and promote biocultural heritage and sustainability, the School of Tourism (Escuela Superior de Turismo, EST) kicked off commemorative activities marking its 52nd anniversary. The institution stands as an academic leader in Mexico and Latin America, preparing key industry leaders who drive this vital sector of the national economy.

Inaugurating the anniversary events, EST Director Marissa Alonso Marbán stated that the celebration honors the history, leadership, and talent of those who give life to this academic unit of the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN).

She maintained that during this forum for reflection and professional networking, participants will share career experiences and examine current labor market realities. "Hearing these testimonies fills us with pride and reminds us of the tangible impact Polytechnic graduates make when addressing complex industry challenges," she noted.

Opening the first panel discussion, titled "The Profile of the Polytechnic Graduate Facing the Demands of the Tourism Sector," EST professor Jesús Humberto Aragón Sarmiento reported that tourism accounts for nearly 9 percent of Mexico's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that international tourist arrivals reached nearly 48 million in 2025.

"Currently, Mexico receives 98 million total visitors, including cruise passengers and day-trippers across our northern and southern borders," he highlighted.

Aragón Sarmiento added that Mexico ranks seventh globally in international tourist arrivals, making it one of the most visited nations worldwide. "In terms of foreign exchange earnings, we rank 15th globally; within Mexico, nearly one million tourism business units employ over 5 million people," the IPN professor noted.

Iván Ruiz Vargas, Coordinator of Marketing Strategies at the Tourism Promotion Institute of the Mexico City Secretariat of Tourism (and an EST alumnus), emphasized that the nation's capital serves as the primary gateway to Mexico. Consequently, local authorities are redirecting promotional strategies to better capture emerging Asian and European travel markets.

He urged EST students to take immense pride in their institution, noting that IPN graduates lead key initiatives across Mexican tourism due to their strategic vision and problem-solving capabilities. "Polytechnic graduates understand tourism through a distinct lens—it is not merely an economic driver, but an industry that profoundly shapes society," he stressed.

Ruiz Vargas noted that as tourism graduates advance into executive decision-making roles, the national industry will continue to modernize. A key area of growth for future graduates, he added, lies in specializing in soft skills, emotional intelligence, and leveraging Artificial Intelligence to design targeted promotional campaigns.

Meanwhile, Edmundo Méndez Tejeda, also an EST alumnus and Municipal President of Mineral del Monte, Hidalgo, explained that the pandemic represented a watershed moment for the sector, forcing a fundamental evolution in how people travel and how destinations host visitors. He highlighted that Mexico boasts a far more diverse array of natural and cultural tourism destinations than many European nations, emphasizing the need to capitalize on these competitive advantages.

He expressed deep pride in graduating from the country's premier tourism school and advised students to deliver exceptional service by treating visitors with genuine hospitality.

Méndez Tejeda thanked IPN leadership for organizing student-industry dialogues to exchange forward-looking perspectives on the state of tourism in Mexico.

Over the three-day event, academics, industry executives, and students will participate in a Career and Internship Fair, keynote lectures, panel discussions, and various cultural, artistic, and athletic competitions marking the anniversary of this cornerstone IPN academic unit.