Despite surpassing the milestone of 4.7 million passengers after August, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport reported a decrease in international tourist arrivals compared to the previous year.
According to the preliminary figures released by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), while its 12 Mexican airports recorded an overall increase in passenger traffic by 14.3% in August 2023 compared to the same month in 2022, the volume of international passengers arriving at Puerto Vallarta showed a decline.
Is this the first sign of a weakening dollar against the peso, giving less buying power to American tourists in Mexico?
Out of the 479,300 passengers recorded at Puerto Vallarta in August, a slight 0.7% increase from 476,100 in August 2022, only 195,300 were international arrivals. This number is down by 9.2% from the 215,000 international tourists who landed in August of the previous year.
On the brighter side, the airports of Guadalajara, Tijuana, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta exhibited growths of 18.0%, 11.7%, 5.2%, and 0.7%, respectively, in comparison to August 2022.
The data also highlighted a silver lining in domestic tourism for Puerto Vallarta. In August 2023, the airport saw a rise of 8.8% in domestic arrivals, with a count of 284,000 passengers, compared to the 261,100 of the previous year.
By the end of the two four-month periods in 2023, the cumulative count for domestic passengers stood at 1,984,100, a commendable increase of 14.6% from last year. The international arrivals tallied at 2,724,700, marking an annual growth of 12.2%.
Moreover, GAP reported a 10.7% increase in the volume of seats offered in August 2023 compared to August 2022. The load factor, a metric indicating how many seats were filled, improved from 78.9% in August 2022 to 81.4% in August 2023.
While the growth trajectory for domestic passengers remains positive, the dip in international arrivals will likely warrant closer examination and strategies to rejuvenate international tourism in the upcoming months.
Puerto Vallarta Tourism Faces Challenges With a Weaker Dollar Against the Peso
Marcelo Alcaraz, a renowned hotel businessman, has raised concerns over the potential dip in foreign tourism in the coming months. The peso’s current strength, which impacts American tourists’ profitability, combined with the recent insecurity alerts for the state of Jalisco issued by the U.S. government, poses challenges to the local tourism sector.
Despite the promising start to the year, Alcaraz notes that the summer season presented its fair share of fluctuations. “The summer had the particularity of being seasonal, with some steep ups and downs, especially on weekends,” said Alcaraz. He emphasized that while last year’s second half saw a burst of travelers eager to escape after the pandemic, this year sees a more regular travel pattern.
In preparation for the potential decrease in occupancy, the iconic Rosita Hotel, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, is utilizing the months of September and October for renovations, maintenance, and staff training. “It is expected that the decrease in occupancy will not be as drastic as in previous periods and that a constant flow of tourists will be maintained,” commented the general manager of the Rosita Hotel. This will enable the hotel to manage its expenses, particularly workforce payments, and prepare for the upcoming season.
Nevertheless, Alcaraz remains optimistic about Puerto Vallarta’s allure for tourists. He highlighted the city’s unparalleled offerings, including its pleasant climate, stunning natural attractions, a unique combination of mountains and sea, diverse activities, and unmatched hospitality. As a testament to its rich history and commitment to service, the Rosita Hotel, which opened in 1948, stands as the city’s first formal hotel at the start of the boardwalk.
With the continued dedication of the tourism sector to adapt and evolve, Puerto Vallarta is poised to face these challenges head-on and continue welcoming tourists from around the world.
Despite surpassing the milestone of 4.7 million passengers after August, the Puerto Vallarta International Airport reported a decrease in international tourist arrivals compared to the previous year.
According to the preliminary figures released by Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), while its 12 Mexican airports recorded an overall increase in passenger traffic by 14.3% in August 2023 compared to the same month in 2022, the volume of international passengers arriving at Puerto Vallarta showed a decline.
Is this the first sign of a weakening dollar against the peso, giving less buying power to American tourists in Mexico?
