With the support of the Government of the People and through the Secretariat of Tourism and Identity of the State of Guanajuato (SECTURI), in collaboration with the International Balloon Festival (FIG León), a historic international participation took place at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF), strengthening the cultural and tourism ties between Mexico and the United States.
The Mexican Consulate in Albuquerque was an honorary witness to the signing of the Collaboration Agreement between the two festivals, marking the beginning of an unprecedented alliance between the two largest hot air balloon festivals in the world.
This agreement, driven by the commitment of the Government of Guanajuato to project its identity to the world, will promote hot air ballooning as a bridge of understanding, creativity, and international cooperation.
Through a Letter of Intent, both institutions committed to fostering cultural and technical exchange, conducting joint international promotional campaigns, sharing best practices in logistics, sustainability, and safety, and conducting research on the tourism and economic impact of hot air ballooning.
In this context, the Mexican Consul in Albuquerque, Patricia Pinzón, presented the “Mucho México en Nuevo México” initiative, which celebrates the art, traditions, and cultural heritage of our country. As part of this initiative, and for the first time, a Mexican Pavilion will be featured at the festival from October 4 to 12, 2025.
The pavilion will showcase Mexico’s cultural richness to hundreds of thousands of visitors through exhibitions, artistic activities, and daily performances, in an event that generates an economic impact of more than $260 million annually for New Mexico.
“The signing of this Letter of Intent is a historic moment that unites the two largest balloon festivals in the world and reflects the deep friendship between Mexico and New Mexico. This joint effort elevates our two countries and reminds us that when Mexico and the United States work together, creativity and cooperation take us higher,” said Consul Patricia Pinzón.
Julie Morgas Baca, Executive Director of the AIBF, emphasized that this signing “enriches our celebration and allows visitors from around the world to learn more about Mexican culture.” Escandra Salim, Director of FIG León, said that “this collaboration underscores the significance of both events, which put León and New Mexico in the spotlight, celebrating together the international unity generated by ballooning.”
This agreement represents a new step in the cultural and tourism diplomacy promoted by the People’s Government, which seeks to position Guanajuato as an international benchmark for identity, hospitality, and creativity.
Source: boletines.guanajuato.gob
