"I came to Mexico, the land of love and of sun, 't was in the shade of the trees, that just as in dreams a fairy tale began" sang the Singer Without a Name back in 1969. But even now the land of sombreros and tequila is back in the spotlight. In 2024, the country will be the setting for the 24th season of Who is the Mole? The search for the mole begins in Mexico City after which the candidates and the mole travel on to the probable final destination of Bacalar, a small village near Lake of the 7 Colors. As with previous destinations on the television program such as Albania and South Africa, we will start to see more interest in vacationing to Mexico in 2024 because of Who is the Mole? but why? And what makes Mexico wonderful to visit?
A new kind of tourism: media tourism
That people want to go on vacation to Mexico after seeing Who is the Mole? can be linked to a new type of tourism, namely media tourism. Literally, this means that people want to visit places or countries from movies, books, television series or even games. This applies both to artificial worlds in theme parks such as Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and to actual scenes from movies and television series. Consider, for example, the city of Edinburgh in Scotland where several scenes from Harry Potter were shot, as well as Salzburg where the Sound of Music was shot or Dubrovnik that you can recognize from Game of Thrones.
In short, the media inspire you to book a vacation to a place you "recognize." Seeing various places in Mexico in Who's the Mole? will make you consider these locations as potential next vacations as well, and we then see this reflected in that year's travel trends.
What makes Mexico wonderful to visit?
Of course, just seeing it in the media is not necessarily enough to convince you to book a vacation to Mexico. After all, the country itself must also have plenty to offer which must then come across convincingly on television. But which places are really worth visiting in Mexico and will we probably or hopefully see again on television?
Mexico City
Mexico City is a bustling metropolis and boasts wonderful historical sites. For example, here you have the Zócalo, a central square and the historic heart of the city, which is surrounded by beautiful colonial buildings and often hosts festivals. You'll also find the National Palace in Mexico City. Here you can admire iconic murals by Diego Rivera that offer a deep insight into Mexican history and the legacy of the Aztecs and Spanish rule. In addition, we hope to see the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, back on television. The gardens are artificial islands and can be discovered by cruising the many canals with floating wooden boats (trajineras).
Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá on the Yucatán Peninsula is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Mexico. The site offers beautiful Mayan architecture and the imposing El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcan. This period shows how much the Maya already knew about astronomy and time. For example, the design of this pyramid is so precise that during an equinox, the sun's rays create a shadow pattern that forms the illusion of a writhing serpent. This indicates the deity Kukulcan.
Bacalar with La Lagunas de los siete colores
Bacalar is a charming town in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo and is characterized by the Laguna de los 7 colores (Lake of the 7 Colors). This lagoon is known for its mesmerizing play of colors, ranging from turquoise to deep blue, caused by the different depths of the water and the reflection of the sun.
