Background on Colombian Tourism in Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo, a Mexican state known for its popular tourist destinations like Cancun, has experienced a significant decline in Colombian visitors. In 2024, only 235,819 Colombian tourists visited Quintana Roo, despite being the fourth most important market. This represents a 43.4% decrease between 2022 and 2024.
Historical Context and Importance
Historically, Colombia has been a crucial market for Quintana Roo. In 2022, the region welcomed 417,128 Colombian tourists, making it the fourth-largest source market, just behind the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. By 2023, this number dropped to 336,016, a 19.4% decrease.
Current Situation and Concerns
As of May 2025, Colombia has fallen to the ninth spot in importance for Quintana Roo’s tourism, with only 0.8% of international tourists coming from the country. This is a stark contrast to its position among the top four markets between 2019 and 2024.
Efforts to Improve the Situation
The Association of Touristic Vacational Complexes has expressed concern over the decline in Colombian visitors. Despite efforts to improve migration filters at airports, the situation continues to worsen.
Government Initiatives
The Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat reports that the number of rejected entrants at Cancun International Airport has decreased. However, this has not led to an increase in Colombian tourists visiting Cancun.
Persisting Issues
Jesús Almaguer Salazar, former president of Cancun’s hotel association, has repeatedly highlighted ongoing mistreatment of Colombian tourists, despite training efforts for migration filter agents at Cancun International Airport.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the current situation with Colombian tourists visiting Quintana Roo? In 2024, only 235,819 Colombian tourists visited Quintana Roo, marking a 43.4% decrease since 2022 and causing Colombia to drop to the ninth most important market.
- Why is this decline concerning? Historically, Colombia has been a significant source of tourists for Quintana Roo. The decline threatens the region’s tourism industry and its economy.
- What efforts are being made to address this issue? The Association of Touristic Vacational Complexes and the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat have expressed concern and attempted to improve migration filters at airports. However, persistent mistreatment of Colombian tourists remains a problem.
