MEXICO CITY, Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released today by Marca Pais – Imagen de Mexico:

Mayan archaeological sites in Mexico were recently featured in a CNN story about tourism in Mexico and the significance of the year 2012 in the Mayan calendar.

CNN's World's Treasures asked Jeff Morgan, Executive Director of the Global Heritage Fund to compile a list of key Mayan sites in Mexico. The UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Chichen Itza in the state of Yucatan and Palenque in Chiapas made the list. The seaside site of Tulum, in Quintana Roo, was described by Morgan as a "picturesque" and "photo-friendly" spot.

Mundo Maya is a tourism initiative linking the Mexican states of Campeche, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Tabasco. This region is home to 6 of Mexico's 27 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most found in any other country in the world. Mexico estimates that 52 million tourists will visit southeastern Mexico in 2012, spending approximately $23 million.

SOURCE Marca Pais - Imagen de Mexico