Mexico City is doing everything that they can do try and bring back passengers into Mexico. Due to the scare of the swine flu outbreak, tourist numbers have fallen all over the country. Thus, in a way to bring back visitors, Mexico City has begun to offer its tourists free insurance.

The new Tourist Assistance Card is the first of its kind anywhere in the world. This card offers tourists staying at any of the city’s 460 registered hotels free access to medical assistance, but not only for swine flu symptoms. This card is also good for accidents, ambulance transport, medicines, and hospitalization.

Mexico officials note that the card covers things like dental care, legal assistance after a robbery, lost luggage, delayed flights, and canceled flights. The mayor of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrade, has issued the first cards to a handful of foreign tourists this week. He went on to say that the aim of this card is to put their city where it wants to be.

Ever since the outbreak of the swine flu, hotel occupancy has sunk as low as 10 percent. Signs of recovery are on the way, which is good news for Mexico City. So far rates have currently recovered to 59 percent. Officials in the city say that the swine flu is now under control in Mexico. As a whole, Mexico has reported 138 deaths related to the swine flu and 14,800 cases.

The travel industry is now doing whatever it can to get tourists back to Mexico, which use to be the world’s leading holiday destination. This September Mexico will be hosting the World Travel Awards. This will be the first time this event is held in Central America.