Introduction to the Cámara Nacional del Autotransporte de Pasaje y Turismo (Canapat)
The Cámara Nacional del Autotransporte de Pasaje y Turismo (Canapat) is a prominent organization established in 1989, representing major bus companies in Mexico. These affiliated brands include Estrella Blanca, Omnibus de México, ETN, Pullman de Morelos, ADO, Futura, Senda, and Costa Line. These companies have been instrumental in providing transportation to popular Mexican destinations such as Veracruz, Acapulco, Puebla, Monterrey, Morelia, Chalma, and Querétaro.
Canapat’s Relevance in the Tourism Sector
Canapat plays a crucial role in Mexico’s tourism industry, with impressive statistics that highlight its significance. According to the SICT’s monthly report on infrastructure, communications, and transportation, 3.824 million passengers traveled by bus in 2024, marking a 1% increase from the previous year.
Bus Travel in Mexico
Bus travel remains the preferred mode of transportation for Mexicans seeking to visit various national destinations. The dedication to providing quality service is evident, as many still opt to purchase tickets at the counter, reminiscent of past travel practices.
Current Challenges and Opportunities
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Canapat’s member companies are strategizing to cater to the thousands of international and national participants. They aim to offer attractive bus designs that promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and create memorable travel experiences for passengers.
Low-Cost Airlines and Competition
Despite the millions of passengers transported by Canapat’s members, low-cost airlines like Viva and Volaris continue to vie for market share. Their efforts aim to improve their financial situations by capturing more passengers.
Regulatory Investigations and Competition
In 2023, the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (Cofece) found that there were no effective competitive conditions in three federal passenger autotransportation modalities in Mexico. The investigation identified six barriers to competition, including horizontal relationships between competitors such as coinvestments between Grupo ADO and Grupo Estrella Roja or between Grupo Estrella Blanca and Grupo IAMSA.
These relationships have negatively affected users of the service. It remains to be seen if the newly established Comisión Nacional Antimonopolio will follow through on the case impartially, striving to create a positively regulated and highly competitive environment for the benefit of all bus users.
Recent Success: El Encuentro de Colores y Sabores de Nayarit
The recent edition of El Encuentro de Colores y Sabores de Nayarit was deemed a resounding success. Local Tourism Secretary Juan Enrique Suárez del Real Tostado, a renowned host, welcomed guests, including the increasingly famous Viva director of Communications, Walfred Castro. Congratulations to all involved!
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Luis Antonio Zaldívar Sánchez? He is the current president of Canapat, who has maintained a close relationship with the federal Tourism Secretary, Josefina Rodríguez, to advocate for the strategic importance of the tourism sector in Mexico’s economic development.
- What challenges does Canapat face? Canapat is dealing with competition from low-cost airlines and regulatory investigations that have identified barriers to competition within the federal passenger autotransportation sector.
- What recent success has the Mexican tourism industry seen? The recent El Encuentro de Colores y Sabores de Nayarit was a significant success, with local Tourism Secretary Juan Enrique Suárez del Real Tostado playing a key role in hosting distinguished guests, including Viva’s director of Communications, Walfred Castro.
