MEXICO CITY, June 13 -- Mexico will soon launch a seal of approval to be known as "Close to China" for tourism service providers, said Mexico's Secretariat for Tourism (Sectur) on Saturday.

The seal is a promotional strategy which will apply to hotels and travel agencies with the aim of boosting tourist services in Mexico.

It is hoped that this new project will increase the number of Chinese visitors to Mexico, said Francisco Maas, Sectur's undersecretary for quality and regulation.

Mexico and China share similarities in customs, traditions and contemporary tendencies, said Maas.

Last year, a total of 75,775 Chinese tourists visited Mexico, an increase of 25 percent on that in 2013. This year, the figure is expected to rise further.

Tourism represents 9.5 percent of Mexico's total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The country receives approximately 29 million international tourists and the tourism sector generates around 16.2 billion U.S. dollars in foreign exchange each year.