Miller promotes Nevada tourism in Ecuador

Monday, Aug. 10, 1998 | 10:13 a.m.

Gov. Bob Miller's unexpected detour to Ecuador for a presidential inauguration is giving him a bigger audience for his Nevada tourism message.

Miller, who last week began what was planned as a weeklong three-nation tour to plant seeds to initiate direct air service to Las Vegas from Mexico and South America, today is leading a five-member U.S. delegation to the inauguration of President-elect Jamil Mahuad in Quito, Ecuador.

The side trip to Quito gave the governor the opportunity to meet with travel agents and air tour executives in that nation.

In a telephone interview from Quito, the governor said a meeting was scheduled for Sunday afternoon with the Ecuadoran tourism officials. Miller said the group would include representatives of U.S. airlines flying routes to Ecuador and northern South America.

The meeting was to be conducted hours before Miller attended a private dinner in conjunction with the Mahuad inaugural, attended by the heads of state and former leaders of several nations. Among those scheduled to attend the dinner: Prince Phillip of Spain, former Polish leader Lech Walesa, Peruvian President Alberto Fujimora and the presidents or former presidents of the nations of Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Costa Rica and Bolivia.

White House officials asked Miller to lead the delegation knowing that he was planning to be in South America on his air tourism mission.

Miller said he was happy to oblige. He noted that with each introduction he received during the festivities came that much more exposure for Nevada. Following today's inauguration, Miller will catch up with the rest of his delegation in Argentina. That will require a four-hour flight from Quito to Miami and an eight-hour trip from Miami to Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

The rest of the small delegation -- including Tom Tait, executive director of the Nevada Commission on Tourism and Rafael "Ray" Vega, a North Las Vegas businessman -- had meetings with executives of two Brazilian airlines while Miller was in Ecuador. Miller said he has rescheduled talks with representatives of Vasp and Varig Brazilian Airlines on his way back to the United States. The contingent also is scheduled to meet with leaders of Aerolineas Argentinas, a leading national carrier, while in Buenos Aires.

Miller said the first leg of the Latin American trip was successful with meetings late last week in Mexico City with executives of Cintra, the parent company of Mexicana Airlines and Aeromexico; and Allegre, a leading Mexican air charter company.

Mexicana and Aeromexico already operate charters to McCarran International Airport, but Miller said his talks are providing the early groundwork for future direct service between Las Vegas and other Mexican cities.

"The timing is good right now to begin with Mexicana and Aeromexico doubling their fleets within seven years," Miller said.

When that occurs, the Mexican carriers are expected to be interested in linking several points in Mexico with the U.S. West Coast. Among the cities listed as potential destinations: Cancun and Guadalajara while Allegre discussed charter flights from Guadalajara and Leone.

One of the recurring themes Miller has hammered home to foreign air carriers is the ease of passengers clearing customs and immigration procedures in Las Vegas as opposed to the more crowded concourses at San Francisco and Los Angeles international airports.

The governor's presentation also sells Las Vegas as a resort destination.

With more than 20,000 new hotel rooms coming on line within the next three years, local tourism experts have recommended a greater emphasis on attracting international visitors. That's why Miller set up meetings in Tokyo and Taipei in June and in Mexico and South America this month. He's expected to announce a similar European mission sometime in the fall.