There were fewer international tourists in July but they spent more

September 10, 2021

International tourist numbers were below pre-pandemic levels in July but foreign visitors’ combined expenditure was above 2019 levels, official data shows.

Just over 3.38 million international visitors came to Mexico in July, according to the national statistics agency Inegi, a 19% decline compared to the 4.16 million foreign tourists in the same month of 2019.

But with a total outlay of US $2.12 billion, their combined spending was 6.5% higher than July 2019, when international tourists spent $1.99 billion.

Inegi said that tourists who arrived by air in July spent an average of $1,150 each while in the country, an increase of 15% compared to 2019.

Compared to July 2020 – when international travel remained deeply depressed by the coronavirus pandemic – international tourist numbers were up 143% in the seventh month of this year. Combined expenditure in July 2021 was up a whopping 389%.

Counting international tourists and international excursionists (cross border daytrippers and cruise ship passengers), a total of 5.33 million foreign visitors came to Mexico in July, a 35% decline compared to the same month in 2019 but an 87% increase compared to a year earlier.

Foreign visitors’ total spending in July this year was $2.22 billion, a 2.3% increase compared to 2019 and a 350% surge over the seventh month of last year. International excursionists spent a combined $107.2 million, or just 5% of the total.