Acapulco Rebounds with Strong Tourism Recovery Post-Otis
Foreign tourists favor Los Cabos and the Riviera Maya, while domestic travelers cherish Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco as top beach destinations. Despite challenges, Acapulco and other Pacific gems have maintained visitor numbers and recovered from recent climatic events.
Acapulco’s Resilience After Otis
Hurricane Otis wreaked havoc on Acapulco’s Zona Dorada and Renacimiento neighborhood, prompting a robust response from the government of Claudia Sheinbaum. An investment of 3,000 million pesos was allocated through the “Acapulco se Transforma Contigo” program, enabling tourists to return.
Tourism Recovery and Promising Outlook
For this vacation period, municipal authorities anticipate over 366,000 visitors and a minimum economic impact of 2,973 million pesos, benefiting more than 200,000 families reliant on tourism.
- Occupancy in the Golden Zone exceeded 95% during the last weekend of the Christmas season, according to municipal tourism secretary Noé Peralta.
- On December 21, the occupancy rate was 91.7%, marking the first vacation day.
- The average occupancy for the season is 92.5%.
Acapulco’s Allure and Upcoming Events
The bay’s allure, including the grand pyrotechnics gala (coordinated by the state government), is expected to attract over 600,000 visitors for the New Year’s celebration in 2026.
Economic Reactivation Efforts
The municipal government organized promotional tours in various states, engaging over 900 travel agents, 400 wedding planners, and 300 business leaders in the tourism sector.
- More than 50 mass events, including sports gatherings, shows, conferences, and conventions, generated over 923 million pesos in economic impact.
Enhanced Connectivity
Maritime arrivals were revived, with 13 cruise ship visits throughout the year. Carnival Cruise Line returned after nearly 17 years, one of the world’s leading cruise lines.
- Aerial connectivity was also revitalized with direct flights to Monterrey, Querétaro, Tijuana, Guadalajara, and Mexico City, along with international routes to Houston, Dallas, and Montreal.
Road connectivity was strengthened through promotional campaigns and strategic alliances with Grupo ETN, Costa Line, and Estrella de Oro.
New Investments and Future Prospects
With increased certainty, new investments have been secured for Acapulco, including 1,000 million pesos in the International Acapulco Airport and over 300 million pesos for managing the National Port System in Acapulco.
Acapulco is gearing up for a strong first quarter in 2026, with events such as the National Urology Congress, Footgolf World Championship, Mexican Open Tennis Tournament, Easter, and the 50th Tianguis Turístico anniversary.
