From inbound tourism to economic contributions and destinations, these are Mexico's latest statistics about travel and tourism that you might find useful.
Teeming with incredible food, ancient temples, and stunning beaches, Mexico has long been one of the most prominent travel destinations in the world.
Did you know that the country welcomed 45 million overseas tourist arrivals in 2019?
From luxurious overwater bungalows to affordable backpackers hostels, the country is suitable for all sorts of travel budgets.
If you want to understand more about travel and tourism in Mexico, you’ve come to the right place.
Today, we’ve gathered and summarised the latest statistics about Mexico’s tourism.
Let’s dive right in!
Sources: We have included every source used under each stats, or head over to the bottom of this post for the full list of articles and references.
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13. After that are Colombia (787,000), the United Kingdom (523,000), and Spain with 335,000.
[Embassy of Mexico]
The fourth largest source market for international tourists in Mexico is the UK, with 523 thousand arrivals recorded in 2022.
14. Other world nationalities comprised 3.6 million of the total overseas arrivals in Mexico in 2022.
[Embassy of Mexico]
Domestic Tourism in Mexico Statistics
How many domestic tourists are there in Mexico?
15. In 2019, there were over 62 million domestic tourists staying at hotel establishments throughout the country.
[Statista]
But in 2020, the number of domestic tourists at Mexican hotels in Mexico fell due to the pandemic.
16. In 2021, domestic tourism expenditure in Mexico rose by 9% to 3 trillion Mexican pesos.
[Statista]
17. Around 3 in 5 Mexicans who go on a vacation state that they usually go to a domestic destination for holiday.
[Statista]
18. The most popular domestic holiday destination in Mexico in 2022 was Guadalajara. 90% of Mexicans stated that it’s their preferred destination for a domestic holiday.
[Statista]
This was chosen as the preferred domestic holiday destination by more than 90% of Mexicans, thanks to all the different and unique things to do in Guadalajara.
19. For domestic trips, more than 50% of respondents say that restaurant offers are the most attractive aspect.
[Statista]
20. Meanwhile, food at a local destination is the most appealing thing from a domestic trip for 44% of travellers.
[Statista]
21. The favorite type of vacation for Mexicans would include visits to tourist attractions, as stated by 60% of Mexicans in a 2022 survey.
[Statista]
22. In 2019, 85% of total travel and tourism spending in Mexico was from domestic tourists.
[Statista]
The percentage remained consistent in 2021, with domestic spending contributing 86% of the total travel spending in Mexico.
Key economic figures in Mexican travel & tourism
How much does tourism contribute to Mexico?
23. The tourism sector in Mexico contributed almost 1.8 trillion pesos to the country's GDP in 2021.
[Statista]
24. This figure is roughly 7% of the total Mexican GDP.
[Statista]
25. In 2020, expenditures by international inbound visitors to Mexico amounted to $11.45 billion.
[Macro Trends]
This figures is a 55.7% decline from 2019, when international tourism receipts were at $25.85 billion.
26. In 2020, international tourism expenditure made up 2.64% of exports in Mexico, a sharp decline from the 5.25% share of exports in 2019.
[Macro Trends]
27. The average international tourist in Mexico spends $385 during their trip.
[Statista]
In contrast, Mexican tourists spend an average of $160 per person when travelling overseas.
28. The accommodation industry alone generated 600 billion Mexican pesos in 2021.
[Statista]
Accommodation was the highest contributor of travel-related GDP in Mexico.
29. In comparison, restaurants, bars and nightclubs contributed 255 billion Mexican pesos in GDP.
[Statista]
30. The amount of tourism foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mexico was $2.2 billion in 2021, the highest since 2010 and around 70% higher than in 2019 and 2020.
[Statista]
31. There were 118 thousand tourism establishments in Mexico in 2019, 90% more than the figure in 2010.
[Statista]
Tourism establishments include those in the accommodation, food service, and reservation industries.
Mexican Travel & Tourism Industry Employment
How does travel and tourism contribute to Mexico’s job industry?
32. In 2021, there were 6.03 million jobs related to travel and tourism in Mexico, which is the second highest number in a Latin American country after Brazil.
[Statista]
Compared to Mexico, in Peru there were just 0.96 million travel and tourism jobs in 2021.
33. Excluding informal employment, the sector provides 2.3 million fulltime jobs (5.9% of fulltime employment in Mexico).
[OECD]
34. Tourism in Mexico also represents 79.9% of the country’s exports in services.
[OECD]
Mexican Travel Destination & Activity Statistics
What are the top travel destinations in Mexico?
35. In 2021, the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage properties in Latin America was Mexico, with a total of 35.
36. Chichén Itzá was the most visited archeological site in Mexico in 2021.
[Statista]
37. The second most popular site, Teotihuacán, had more than 900 thousand total visitors in 2021.
[Statista]
38. The Mexican port with the most cruise passenger traffic in 2021 is Cozumel, with 44% of all cruise passengers in Mexico traveling there.
[Statista]
39. The second most popular port among cruise travelers was Majahual in Quintana Roo.
[Statista]
40. As of November 2021, Oaxaca de Juarez is the cheapest city to travel to in North America, costing only $30.60 per day.
[Statista]
In fact, Mexico is the perfect destination for backpackers as the five cheapest North American cities to travel to are all based in Mexico. Oaxaca de Juarez takes the lead at a daily cost of just $30.60.
Hotel Industry Statistics in Mexico
How many hotels are there in Mexico?
41. There is a total of 24.7 thousand hotels and similar establishments in Mexico in 2020, compared to the 16.9 thousand in 2010.
42. In 2021, Mexican hotels had an average room occupancy of 41.4%.
[Statista]
43. Beach hotels in Mexico tend to have a higher room occupancy rate than city hotels. In 2021, beach hotels recorded 49% occupancy compared to just 35.5% of hotels in city areas.
[Statista]
Hotels in coastal areas like Isla Mujeres tend to attract more guests than city-based hotels.
44. The Mexican tourist destination with the highest hotel occupancy is Los Cabos, with an impressive 60% hotel occupancy rate.
[Statista]
They’re followed by Mazatlán in Sinaloa, which is a beautiful beachside getaway with lots of things to do!
45. The Mexican region with the most hotels in August 2022 was Veracruz, with 1,784 establishments.
[Statista]
46. It was followed by Jalisco with 1,400 hotels, whereas Mexico City had 840 hotel establishments in August 2022.
[Statista]
47. In 2021, the leading hotel company in Mexico was AMResorts. They recorded more than 28 billion Mexican pesos of net revenue.
[Statista]
48. The Riviera Maya and Mexico City each recorded more than 12 million occupied rooms in 2019.
[Statista]
The top five tourist destinations for overnight visitors in Mexico is rounded up by Cancún, Los Cabos, and Guadalajara.
Known for its stunning white sand beaches and nightlife, you won’t find a short of things to do in Cancun.
49. The best rated resorts in Mexico in 2022 is Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya in Tulum, followed by One&Only Palmilla.
53. Mexico City also happens to be the 13th most liked city for female digital nomads.
[Nomad List]
Although Mexico City received a 4.09 rating by female travellers who work remotely, the city isn’t included on the top 15 most cities liked by male digital nomads.
54. In 2019, business travel in Mexico City cost almost $220 daily for international guests, with hotels making up for over two-thirds of that budget.
[Statista]
In Mexico City in 2019, the daily cost of business travel amounts to nearly $220.
55. In 2021, leisure tourism represented 95% of the total tourism expenditures in the North American country that year.
[Statista]
56. More than half of Mexicans go on a holiday with their family.
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As the type 1 diabetic half of Dream Big, Travel Far, I'm passionate about encouraging fellow type 1's to travel the world and not let their diabetes hold them back. I'm proud to now be a full-time digital nomad. Meaning I live my life working and travelling all over the world and am here to help you achieve your dreams as well in any way I can.
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