Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Rodrigo de la Peña, the president of the Association of Hotels of Cancún, Puerto Morelos e Isla Mujeres (AHCPMIM), and former president Jesús Almaguer have expressed concerns about the decline in US tourist arrivals in Quintana Roo, Mexico, during the second half of 2025.
These concerns come as Cancún, a major tourist destination in the Mexican Caribbean, has experienced a drop of up to 10 points in US tourist arrivals. The region’s hotel sector acknowledges the challenges faced in recent months, but remains optimistic about the upcoming winter season due to last-minute reservations and a competitive global market.
Decline in US Tourist Arrivals
The Centro de Investigación Avanzada en Turismo Sostenible (STARC) at the Universidad Anáhuac recently reported a decline in passenger transportation for key US routes to Cancún.
- Cancún-Dallas: -5.8%
- Cancún-Houston: N/A (data not provided)
- Cancún-Chicago: -15%
- Cancún-New York: -3.8%
- Cancún-Atlanta: -2.1%
In addition to these international route declines, domestic flights to Cancún have also seen decreases:
- Toluca-Cancún: -10%
- Mexico City-Cancún: -5.8%
- AIFA-Cancún: -5.2%
- Monterrey-Cancún: -4.6%
Reasons for the Decline
De la Peña and Almaguer attribute the decline in US tourist arrivals to various factors, including fluctuating exchange rates and internal issues within the United States.
Almaguer mentioned, “We are hopeful that Brazilian visa issues will be resolved, allowing for a percentage of Sout American travelers.”
Call to Action: Strengthening Promotion for 2026
Both de la Peña and Almaguer emphasize the need to bolster promotional efforts for Cancún in the US market in 2026, to maintain a competitive edge against strong rivals such as the Dominican Republic.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the concern of Cancún hoteliers? They are worried about the decline in US tourist arrivals, with a drop of up to 10 points in the second half of 2025.
- Which US routes to Cancún have experienced the most significant decline? The Chicago-Cancún route has seen the most substantial decrease of -15%, followed by Panama-Cancún with -7.4%.
- What factors contribute to the decline in US tourist arrivals? Factors include fluctuating exchange rates and internal issues within the United States.
- What is the hoteliers’ strategy to counteract this decline? They plan to strengthen promotional efforts in the US market for 2026 to stay competitive against destinations like the Dominican Republic.
