Mexico looking to develop projects along Maya train route

Mexico’s tourism board Fonatur, which is in charge of overseeing construction of the 200bn-peso (US$9.8bn) Maya train, is seeking to develop a series of projects to complement the 1,500km rail line. 

Fonatur launched a tender to carry out studies into real estate, urban, tourism and infrastructure works related to the passenger rail line that will pass through Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo states. 

The studies should also help define whether works are public, private or a mix of both, according to the tender call published on procurement site Compranet.

Bids will be received on October 26 and a winner is due to be picked on October 28. Fonatur will host on October 20 a session with interested participants to answer queries. 

The studies should be completed in 11 months after the contract is awarded, the tender call states. 

The winner will also have to produce a series of business plans, including four complementary urban and real estate projects already identified for tourism hub Cancún in Quintana Roo and Yucatán state capital Mérida. 

The four projects are dubbed Mérida Central, Mérida Teya, Cancún 2050 and Cancún airport terminal. 

Fonatur has previously announced that it wants to turn the 24 stations along the route into development poles for the local economy.