The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and Google Mexico signed an agreement on June 16th to promote national cultural heritage through internet, particularly museums, archaeological zones, and historical monuments. This international promotion project seeks to invigorate tourism as part of the Vive Mexico initiative.

The agreement, signed by Alfonso de Maria y Campos, INAH general director, and John Farrell, Google Mexico general director, also seeks to boost internet users’ interest in anthropological, archaeological and historic themes, as part of a strategy that allows better knowledge and awareness regarding the importance of conservation of Mexico cultural goods, as well as promoting physical visits to the 173 archaeological zones and 116 museums in custody of INAH.

This way, by using new technologies and academic support from INAH, promotion of Mexican cultural heritage will be boosted among millions of Internet users from all over the world, through the Let’s Put Mexico on the Map with Google project.

"More than great promotion investment, we are working in several formats through new technologies," pointed out the INAH director, after recalling that through this initiative the public has an active role, with the possibility of generating creative promotional products, and taking advantage of word of mouth advertising.

John Farrell, general director of Google Mexico, declared that through this agreement, both institutions offer their actives, more than economic amounts, “where a high-prestige institution like INAH contribution is invaluable, consisting in the huge Mexico’s history and anthropology knowledge, that to present is so important to be shown to the world: This is an excellent opportunity for world and Mexican users to discover national cultural heritage”.

"INAH is at the forefront as one of the first institutions that uses Internet platforms as an essential part of their cultural richness promotion strategy," commented Farrell, and recalled that there are 27 million internet users in Mexico alone, and using the Google platform provides an easier access to cultural heritage, for them and for potential visitors from other countries.

Participation of the National Institute in the project takes place in agreement with the Ley Orgánica [Organic Law], which establishes as one of its objectives promotion and divulgation of cultural richness.

The agreement with Google includes using the different applications of its platform: YouTube, Google Earth and Google Maps.

In the case of YouTube, site that registers near 15 million users from Mexico, INAH recently opened its own Internet television channel at www.youtube.com/INAHTV, where users can access more than 100 videos that show cultural goods such as museums, archaeological zones and contemporary cultural manifestations, as well as the possibility of interacting with other visitors, sharing information and experiences regarding heritage.

Through Google Earth, a popular virtual map, the public may access satellite location and general plans of exact places where museums, archaeological zones and historical monuments are located.

Google Maps provides a guide of addresses and routes from different locations that show how to get to each cultural destination of Mexico and the estimated time of arrival.

Let’s Put Mexico on the Map with Google is a long term integral and global project that will look forward to propel new projects that can be published and shared through Internet, adding value to the new multimedia resources developed by INAH to present, such as virtual visits to museums or 360 degrees panoramic views.

Recently, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) improved its home page www.inah.gob.mx allowing a more dynamic access of visitors to cultural heritage information, with a new weekly radio news program, weekend tourism options, virtual tours, photo galleries, book reviews and international exhibitions microsites.

Derived from the agreement signed, specific projects will be activated, such as a contest for college students to create scientific content about cultural heritage, to be promoted online.