Introduction to Tourism Income and Air Arrivals in Mexico
Mexico attracted tourism income amounting to 10,268.5 million US dollars during the first quarter of the year, marking a 4.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the results of the International Traveler Surveys (EVI) conducted by Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).
During these months, 11.86 million international tourists visited various tourist attractions, representing a 5.7% increase from the previous year.
Mixed Results: Tourism Income Up, Air Arrivals Down
Despite the positive trends in both indicators, air arrivals of international tourists experienced a negative performance during the quarter, decreasing by 3.2%. This decline was primarily due to a decrease in arrivals from the United States, Mexico’s primary source market.
The Centro de Investigación Avanzada en Turismo Sostenible of the Universidad Anáhuac Cancún explained, “Although international tourism to Mexico generally maintains good results, the decrease in air arrivals is noteworthy. Although this variable aligns with seasonal behavior, the results for the first three months of the year have remained below those recorded in the same period of 2024. Notably, the Easter holiday fell in March last year.”
Decline in Average Spending
According to Inegi data, the average spending of all international tourists (those with overnight stays and day-trippers) dropped by 2.2% between January and March, falling from 817.34 to 799.34 US dollars.
March Data Highlights
Following the release of EVI, Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism issued a statement highlighting the arrival of eight million 368,662 total visitors in March alone, a 10.1% increase from the same month in 2024. Of this figure, 4.2 million visitors (50%) stayed in Mexico, classified as international tourists, with a growth rate of only 1.4%.
“These results clearly reflect the growth in tourism, which translates into significant benefits for the national economy and well-being for local residents through job creation and regional development in tourist areas. The sector of good news continues to consolidate as a key driver for growth,” the official stated.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the total tourism income Mexico attracted in Q1 2024? Mexico attracted 10,268.5 million US dollars in tourism income during the first quarter of 2024.
- How did air arrivals of international tourists perform in Q1 2024? Air arrivals of international tourists decreased by 3.2% in Q1 2024.
- What caused the decrease in air arrivals? The primary reason for the decline was a reduction in arrivals from the United States, Mexico’s main source market.
- What was the average spending of international tourists between January and March 2024? The average spending dropped from 817.34 to 799.34 US dollars.
- How many total visitors arrived in Mexico in March 2024, and how many of them stayed overnight? Eight million 368,662 total visitors arrived in Mexico in March 2024, with 4.2 million (50%) staying overnight.
- What was the growth rate of international tourists staying overnight in Mexico during March 2024? The growth rate for international tourists staying overnight in Mexico during March 2024 was only 1.4%.
