Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The first quarter of 2024 has brought substantial economic gains to Mexico’s tourism sector, as reported by the Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués. International visitors contributed to a total revenue of 9.8 billion dollars during this period, marking a notable increase of 9.7% compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. Moreover, this figure reflects a remarkable surge of 39.2% when juxtaposed with the first quarter of 2019.
According to insights gleaned from the International Traveler Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), the influx of international tourists to Mexico witnessed a steady rise. Between January and March 2024, a total of 11.2 million international visitors explored the diverse landscapes and cultural offerings of Mexico. This represents a 6.9% increase from the corresponding period in 2023 and a notable uptick of 1.3% compared to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
The economic impact of international tourism was further underscored by the significant income generated during this period. International tourists contributed 9,171.8 million dollars to Mexico’s economy in the first quarter of 2024, indicating a robust increase of 9.5% compared to the same period in 2023. Notably, this figure showcases a substantial surge of 41.7% when contrasted with the first quarter of 2019, which recorded revenues of 6,470.9 million dollars.
Air travel emerged as a prominent mode of entry for international tourists, with 6.8 million arrivals via this channel during January-March 2024. This represents a commendable increase of 7.8% compared to the same quarter of 2023 and a notable surge of 23.9% compared to the pre-pandemic levels of 2019.
Despite challenges posed by the global economic landscape, the average expenditure of international tourists arriving by air witnessed growth. With an average expenditure of 1,247.1 dollars per visitor during this period, there was a notable uptick of 2.6% compared to the same period in 2023. This also represents a significant increase of 18.1% in the average registered expenditure compared to the first quarter of 2019.
Cruise tourism also played a pivotal role in bolstering Mexico’s tourism industry, with 2,969,000 cruise passengers arriving at Mexican ports from January to March 2024. This marks a substantial increase of 9.8% compared to the same period in 2019. The economic contributions from cruise excursionists were equally significant, with foreign exchange income reaching 253.2 million dollars during this period, showcasing a notable increase of 35% compared to 2019.
In summary, the first quarter of 2024 has demonstrated robust growth in Mexico’s international tourism sector, with increases in both visitor arrivals and economic contributions. These positive trends bode well for the continued recovery and resilience of Mexico’s tourism industry in the post-pandemic era.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The first quarter of 2024 has brought substantial economic gains to Mexico's tourism sector, as reported by the Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués. International visitors contributed to a total revenue of 9.8 billion dollars during this period, marking a notable increase of 9.7% compared to the same timeframe in the previous year. Moreover, this figure reflects a remarkable surge of 39.2% when juxtaposed with the first quarter of 2019.
