Atlanta, For Immediate Release: “A world model,” Mexico’s tourism development program ranks as the best in recent history, according to noted futurist McKinley Conway’s new book, Global Super Projects: Mega Ventures That Are Shaping Our Future.

Mexico ’s landmark achievement, however, is only one of a host of mega-endeavors in which Conway has selected the most significant projects in recent history. The prolific author of more than two dozen books has also chosen the top projects in 19 other important categories, ranging from environmental and conservation undertakings, to new airports, highways and other infrastructure elements. (To access all of Conway’s selections, as well as the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, look for the online version of the entire book that will be available by Jan. 16, 2006, at www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects. To go directly to the Conway Global Super Projects Registry, go to www.sitenet.com/books/superprojects/registry.)

Conway, a pioneer in the economic development field, made his selections from what he calls “Super Projects, the billion-dollar babies that are changing the face of world development.” A Super Project, he explains, “represents a cost of US$1 billion or more and/or a represents a technological breakthrough of worldwide significance.” Conway’s Atlanta-based research firm, Conway Data Inc., maintains a global Super Project database that now includes some 2,000 ventures.

Just how did Conway, who has studied major global projects for decades and brought together leading Super Project experts in a series of historic worldwide conferences, choose the crème de la crème? The winners, he explains, “were those deemed to be most significant in improving the quality of life for large numbers of the world’s citizens.”

Here, for example, is how the author explained his choice for the world’s top tourism development program:

“ Mexico’s FONATUR program is a world model. One of the lessons of this generation for development strategists is that well-conceived tourism projects may pay off more quickly than just about any other venture. An outstanding example is provided by Mexico’s national foundation for tourism (FONATUR) which has invested in half-a-dozen destination resort centers at remote sites.

“They put in airstrips, power plants, and luxury hotels at such villages as Cancún, Loreto, Atulco, Los Cabos, and Zihuatanejo and got quick attention from global travel agents. Today lively new cities have surrounded the projects and thousands of Mexicans have found new jobs and a better life.

“Another success story can be found at Las Vegas. What was once a dusty desert crossroads has a world-famous strip lined with incredible billion dollar hotel-casinos.

“ Singapore has just added its first casino and a cluster of such facilities is emerging at Macau.”