Mexico exceeded 40 million international tourists in 2023

The Secretary of Tourism of the Mexican government, Miguel Torruco Marqués, defended the philosophy of the policy in the sector adopted in the last five years, which has consisted of “making tourism a tool for social reconciliation.” And that, in addition to diversifying the offer and decentralizing the tourist points of interest, has allowed the year to close with the best figures in history: more than 40 million foreign visitors, with an average expenditure of more than 1,155 dollars (20,700 pesos), which represents a significant improvement, of more than 25.7 percent, compared to 2019, which was the last regular year before the covid 19 pandemic, which caused a fracture in world tourism, including Mexico.

Torruco is participating these days in his last International Tourism Fair (FITUR) as Mexican Secretary of State, after serving throughout the six-year term of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. His administration began with the Covid-19 pandemic and ended with the natural disaster in Acapulco after Hurricane Otis, which destroyed a large part of one of the most important tourist ports in the country.

Throughout 2024, they expect to exceed 42.5 million foreign tourists, largely boosted by the arrival of the Mayan Train to the Mexican southeast, which, according to the Mexican secretary, will already be fully operational "by mid-March."

Torruco said that the income from tourists arriving by air in 2024 will amount to 25,930 million dollars, which would represent an increase of 0.3 percent compared to what was estimated in 2023, that is, 74 million more; and it would mean an increase of 31.9 percent compared to what was recorded in 2019.