Border Governors Conference

The first Border Governors Conference convened in Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico in 1980 to begin a formal process of opening lines of communication among the 10 U.S. and Mexican Border States. A conference is held each year, alternating locations between the United States and Mexico. Since 1980, the organization has enhanced joint border efforts addressing agriculture, education, economic development, energy, environment, health, tourism and border security issues.

The Tourism Worktable supports preserves and promotes the natural and cultural diversity and the scenic beauty of the Border Region through education and marketing of historic, cultural and ecotourism resources and to inform and assist travelers. In 2009, the Tourism work table presented the following recommendations:

• Exchange best practices to develop and promote bi-national tourism activities and strengthen collaborative projects between neighboring states in the United States-Mexico border region. Identify and inventory niche travel products in neighboring states and provide guidance to the United States-Mexico border cities and region for development of these tours.
• Establish a formal partnership with our respective federal governments to make cross-border travel more efficient through infrastructure improvements and educate the traveling public on rules affecting cross border travel. In addition, jointly develop a process to obtain cross-border traveler data to enhance tourism in the United States-Mexico border region.
• Work with the appropriate state and federal entities in order to improve the urban image and signage of Ports of Entry in the United States-Mexico border region.

Learn more about the 2010 Border Governors Conference >>

For additional information, please contact Laura French at lfrench@azot.gov or (602) 364-3720.