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Sheinbaum secures 70% approval rating in first 30 days of presidency

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MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum at the podium at her Monday morning mañanera
As President Sheinbaum enters her second month in office, her popularity remains high. (Presidencia)

A strong majority of Mexicans approve of the performance of President Claudia Sheinbaum in her first weeks as Mexico’s first female leader, according to the results of a recent poll.

A poll conducted by the newspaper El Financiero in mid and late October found that 70% of respondents approved of Sheinbaum’s work as president.

Only 24% of those polled said they disapproved of the president’s performance while 6% of 1,000 respondents didn’t express an opinion one way or the other.

El Financiero found that the Sheinbaum administration’s continuation of existing welfare programs and its focus on women’s rights are particularly popular, while a strong majority of poll respondents rated the new president highly on the personal attributes of honesty and leadership.

Former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador maintained high approval ratings throughout his six-year presidency.

Sheinbaum, a political protégé of AMLO who won almost 60% of the vote in the June 2 presidential election, will be hoping she can maintain similar popularity throughout her six-year term.

She was sworn in as president on Oct. 1, one month after recently-elected lawmakers assumed their positions, giving the ruling Morena party and its allies strong majorities in both houses of Congress.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum smiling and waving at crowds as she stands in front of the National Palace in Mexico City. She is wearing a white dress with traditional embroidery on the cuffs and bearing Mexico's red, white and green presidential sash.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, the nation’s first-ever female leader, arriving at Mexico’s National Palace after being sworn in at the Chamber of Deputies on Oct. 1. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Policy strengths and weaknesses  

The 1,000 poll respondents were asked to rate the Sheinbaum administration’s performance in seven different areas.

  • Social support: 70% of those polled rated the government’s performance in this area as “very good or good.” The social support category includes things such as the payment of the old-age pension as well as support for students and the provision of employment programs including the Sowing Life reforestation initiative and the Youths Building the Future apprenticeship scheme. Just 16% of respondents described the government’s social support efforts as “very bad or bad,” while the remainder of those polled were neutral or didn’t offer a response.
  • Women’s rights: 66% of respondents rated the government’s performance in this area as “very good or good,” while 20% described it as “very bad or bad.” Sheinbaum established Mexico’s first Ministry of Women, and has pledged to “continue building equality and freedom for all Mexican women.”
  • The judicial reform: 49% of respondents assessed the government’s management of this issue in a positive light, while 26% expressed discontent. The judicial reform was signed into law two weeks before Sheinbaum took office. The Supreme Court is scheduled to make a ruling on the reform on Tuesday, but there appears to be a strong probability that the government won’t comply with a decision it considers unfavorable.
  • Economy: 44% of poll respondents said that the government is doing a “very good or good” job with the economy, while 27% said the opposite. The Mexican economy exceeded expectations to grow 1.5% annually in the third quarter of 2024, but growth this year will be well below the 3.2% rate recorded in 2023.
  • Public security: Only 28% of those polled endorsed the government’s performance in this area, while 48% assessed it negatively. The government presented a new security strategy in early October, and last week highlighted that homicides have declined. However, various parts of Mexico remain plagued by high levels of violent crime.
  • Corruption: Just 21% of respondents assessed the government’s performance as “very good or good” in this area, while 60% said the opposite. The result is somewhat surprising given that Sheinbaum — following in the footsteps of AMLO — is committed to leading “an honest, honorable government without cronyism, nepotism, corruption or impunity.” She has even renamed the Ministry of Public Administration the Anti-Corruption and Good Government Ministry.
  • Organized crime: Only 16% of those polled said that the Sheinbaum administration has done a “very good or good” job combatting organized crime groups, while exactly three-quarters of respondents assessed the government negatively in this area. A war between rival factions of the Sinaloa Cartel in Sinaloa and a long-running battle between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Guanajuato — Mexico’s most violent state — are among the security challenges the new government faces.
State police officer with a machine gun and wearing a baclava stands at a crime scene where a pickup truck with the Sinaloa attorney general's logo on it is parked, blocking the street horizontally.
Negatively impacting the president’s approval rating is the issue of security. Three-quarters of Mexicans did not approve of the Sheinbaum administration’s work to combat organized crime groups. (José Betanzos Zárate/Cuartoscuro)

An honest president with good leadership skills and the ability to deliver results? Most Mexicans say yes

The results of the El Financiero poll show that almost seven in 10 respondents (68%) consider Sheinbaum an honest president, while 64% praised her for her leadership of the nation. Just 14% of those polled expressed definitive doubt about the president’s honesty, while 16% expressed negative views about her leadership skills or lack thereof.

Almost six in ten respondents (58%) were upbeat about Sheinbaum’s ability to achieve results, while just 17% were pessimistic about her capacity to deliver.

Two-thirds of those polled (67%) said they “very much” or “somewhat” approved of Sheinbaum’s “style of governing,” while 30% said they don’t like it much or at all.

What is Mexico’s ‘main’ problem?

Insecurity? The state of the economy and unemployment? Or corruption?

Poll respondents were asked to choose between those three options when responding to this question: “What is the main problem in the country today?”

Two-thirds of respondents (66%) nominated insecurity, while just 11% chose the economy and unemployment and 6% opted for corruption.

While homicides declined in the second half of López Obrador’s presidency, his six-year term was the most violent on record, underscoring the security challenges faced by the Sheinbaum administration.

In addition to murders, serious crimes such as kidnapping, extortion and violence against women (including femicide and rape) are significant problems in Mexico.

While the Mexican economy will slow in annual terms this year, unemployment remains low at 2.9% of the economically active population in September.

With reports from El Financiero

Mexico’s ‘constitutional problem’ and US elections: President Sheinbaum’s mañanera recapped

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MND Staff
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Sheinbaum's mañanera on Nov. 4, 2024
On Monday, Sheinbaum once again argued that the Supreme Court doesn't have the authority to hand down a decision on a reform that was approved by the federal Congress. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum was up bright and early once again on Monday to preside over her morning press conference, or mañanera, at the National Palace.

There was reason for Sheinbaum to have a spring in her step: The El Financiero newspaper published the results of a poll that showed that 70% of respondents approved of her performance in her first weeks as Mexico’s first female leader.

President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a podium
Poll respondents had a favorable view of the new president’s press conferences. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)

The same poll found that 59% of respondents consider the president’s mañaneras to be “very good or good,” while just 21% said the opposite.

The president’s press conferences have been shorter and more focused than those of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who often gave verbose answers to reporters’ questions that were prone to veer into lessons on Mexican history or attacks on his political opponents.

Here is a brief summary of some key parts of Sheinbaum’s presser on Monday morning.

The Supreme Court is causing a ‘constitutional problem,’ Sheinbaum claims  

Supreme Court (SCJN) Justice Juan Luis González Alcántara Carrancá asserted last week that the Sheinbaum administration will trigger a “constitutional crisis” if it refuses to comply with a SCJN ruling against the recently enacted judicial reform.

The SCJN on Tuesday will consider a proposal from González to strike down provisions in the reform that allow all judges to be elected in Mexico. Under his proposal, only SCJN justices would be elected and all other judges would continue to be appointed.

On Monday, Sheinbaum once again argued that the SCJN doesn’t have the authority to hand down a decision on a reform that was approved by the federal Congress and ratified by a majority of state legislatures.

“The constitutional reform was already published so they’re legislating on a constitutional reform,” she said after advising the SCJN to take into account the recently-promulgated “constitutional supremacy” reform, which prevents legal challenges against constitutional amendments.

“Who do constitutional reforms correspond to? The legislative [power],” Sheinbaum said.

The Supreme Court in session
President Sheinbaum characterized any Supreme Court judgment on the judicial reform amendment as overreach. (Cuartoscuro)

“… What the Supreme Court wants to do now is legislate, change what the Congress has already decided. In other words, the court is exceeding its authority,” she said.

“… Of course we have a plan, whether they decide in favor or against [González’s proposal],” Sheinbaum said.

“Who is causing a constitutional problem? I don’t even want to call it a ‘crisis’ because that’s what our adversaries call it. Who is causing it? The Supreme Court,” she said.

The US presidential election 

“Obviously we respect and we will respect the decision of the people of the United States,” Sheinbaum said when asked about Tuesday’s presidential election.

“… Once the United States electoral institutions take their decision with respect to the next president of the United States we will be in contact with the next presidente or presidenta,” she said.

Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of the USMCA trade pact, and declared that “high-level dialogue” on issues such as migration and fentanyl will continue regardless of the election outcome.

“There will be a good relationship,” she added.

5th anniversary of massacre in Bavispe, Sonora

Nov. 4 is the fifth anniversary of the murder in Bavispe, Sonora, of three women and six children, all of whom were dual Mexican-American citizens and belonged to Mormon families that live in northern Mexico.

Sheinbaum told reporters that a total of 36 people have been arrested in connection with the crime, which was allegedly perpetrated by members of the La Línea faction of the Juárez Cartel.

Asked whether she would meet with relatives of the deceased, the president said she hadn’t received a request from the LeBaron family to do so.

“We’re going to wait to see what the family asks for,” she said.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Sinaloa clears way for US $300M in stalled real estate investment

By
MND Staff
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New hotels being built in Mazatlán, Sinaloa
Ismael Tirado, president of the local chapter of the Mexican Association of Realtors, said that 196 new buildings are currently under construction in Mazatlán. (Shutterstock)

The construction boom in the Pacific resort town of Mazatlán will continue after the state of Sinaloa’s zoning and urban development regulations were tweaked to specify the height allowances on new buildings.

The decision to update the state’s building codes will unfreeze US $300 million in funding for construction projects in Mazatlán that had been paused awaiting clarification on building height limits. 

Hotels in Mazatlan Bay, Sinaloa.
Among the construction projects scheduled to restart under the new code are a complex of Stelarhe condominiums, the Hotel Hyde and the Aguamarina Talismán condos. (Wikimedia Commons)

The new regulations will allow structures of up to 30 floors, according to the local newspaper Debate.

Among the construction projects poised to restart are a complex of Stelarhe condominiums, the Hotel Hyde, built by the French hospitality multinational Grupo Accor, and the Aguamarina Talismán condos. Once completed, these projects are expected to create 1,000 new jobs in Mazatlán.

These three projects, all under construction since 2023, slowed building activities in May while awaiting confirmation that they’d be able to carry out their designs. 

The pause was prompted by the publication of new building codes that included unclear wording regarding height allowances.

 

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A post shared by Stelarhe (@stelarhe.mzt)

Mazatlán has received US $5.3 billion in construction investments during the first half of 2024 alone, according to Debate. 

Among the new real estate projects coming to Mazatlán are 17 condo towers, five neighborhood developments, two shopping plazas, two convenience stores, one golf course and 10 hotels by international chains. Some of them include new hotels under the Fiesta Americana, Holiday Inn and Windham brands.

Ismael Tirado, president of the local chapter of the Mexican Association of Realtors, told the newspaper Meganoticias that 196 new buildings were under construction in Mazatlán as of early September. 

In a separate interview, Tirado told the news outlet Riodoce that he anticipates an upsurge in the realty business in the final quarter of 2024, saying that clients will be trying to close deals on condos ahead of the new year. 

Tirado added that buyers claim not to be overly concerned about the cartel violence raging in Sinaloa, convinced that it is just temporary.

“They say they want to continue investing,” Tirado said. “They prefer betting that Mazatlán real estate will continue to be profitable, and see the violence as a short-term (concern).”

With reports from Debate, RioDoce, Meganoticias and Mexico Living

NASA’s next space launch includes a young Mexican scientist’s discovery

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MND Staff
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A young woman wearing a NASA jumper poses in front of a massive NASA logo
Nadia Zenteno Pérez, 28, is one of the founders of MatXSpace, an organization dedicated to promoting aerospace research. (X)

Nadia Zenteno Pérez, a 28-year-old Mexican scientist originally from Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, is hoping to help revolutionize satellite construction and infrastructure with a material science project that NASA will send to space on Monday.

The potentially groundbreaking project — part of 2,700 kilograms of cargo aboard a SpaceX rocket scheduled to take off at 7:29 p.m. Mexico City time on Monday — uses an advanced alloy designed to withstand the extreme conditions of space.

The project will undergo six months of trials aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in its Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) module, following its launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida.

“This is not only my success, but a victory for all young people in Chihuahua and Mexico,” Zenteno said, expressing gratitude for the state’s support and the international recognition her project has received.

Chihuahua Governor María Eugenia Campos is scheduled to attend the NASA launch with Zenteno, who reportedly made a discovery while working with Jonathan Cruz at MatXSpace, a team of tech-savvy students and material scientists throughout Mexico.

Their discovery was an alloy that can be adapted to outer space, and could eventually be used to build satellite infrastructure and space exploration equipment. MatXSpace — which develops such projects and also promotes tech and science throughout Latin America — developed a mechanism using the alloy. It will be headed for the International Space Station on Monday, assuming launch conditions are favorable.

A young dark-haired woman stands next to a banner reading "Agencia Espacial Mexicana."
Zenteno discovered an alloy that is highly resistant to heat and radiation, making it a candidate for aerospace applications. (via Net Noticias)

The alloy can stand up to intense radiation and temperature fluctuations, according to MatXSpace, which stands for “Materials for Space.” According to her LinkedIn page, Zenteno, who now resides in Puebla city, founded MatXSpace.

Campos in a press release described Zenteno and her findings as a source of pride for the state of Chihuahua. The governor not only facilitated the trip to the launch, but also a trip to Milan, Italy, where Zenteno presented her research at an international aerospace forum.

Zenteno’s achievements underscore the global competitiveness of aerospace technology in Mexico.

According to a recent report from Aviación 21, a Mexican online news platform dedicated to the aviation and aerospace industries, Mexico is now the 12th largest exporter worldwide in the aerospace sector.

The same report said Mexico has shot up to sixth among all countries in terms of aerospace exports to the United States.

Óscar Rodríguez Yañez, president of the Bajío Aerospace Cluster, said that aerospace manufacturing accounts for approximately 1.4% of Mexico’s GDP — with exports exceeding US $9.8 billion in 2022.

Claudia Cristina Villaseñor, head of the economic ministry for Guanajuato state, predicted significant growth in Mexico’s aerospace industry, pointing to solid collaborations between “academic institutions and the government.”

Another factor is Mexico’s appeal as a nearshoring hub, with global aerospace companies increasingly interested in establishing or expanding operations in Mexico. The Mexican Federation of the Aerospace Industry (FEMIA) reported that the sector grew by over 18% in 2022 compared to 2021.

With reports from Vox Populi Noticias, El Imparcial and A21

Near-freezing temperatures and snow await northern Mexico this week

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MND Staff
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Children and grownups play in the snow in Xalatlaco, México state.
Sonora and Chihuahua could see snow and sleet as cold front No. 7 moves southeast across Mexico. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)

The season’s seventh cold front has brought a mass of polar air to northern Mexico, where temperatures may drop below freezing in the early part of this week. 

The abrupt atmospheric changes will produce whipping winds and thunderstorms in the northwest, and Sonora and Chihuahua could see snow and sleet as the front moves southeast. 

Near-freezing temperatures will be felt primarily at high altitudes in the states of Baja California, Durango, Sonora, Chihuahua and Zacatecas.

By Wednesday, the cold front is expected to reach northern Veracruz, where it will dissipate. 

Warm temperatures are expected in the lowlands and along the coasts on Monday. Areas of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Coahuila, Nuevo León and Tamaulipas will experience temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius.

San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche and Yucatán can expect temperatures between 30 and 35 C.

A curtain of rain falls on the canals of the Xochimilco district.
The Mexico City suburb of Tlalnepantla experienced flooding due to intense rainfall this weekend.
(Cuartoscuro/Margarito Pérez Retana)

The weather agency Meteored projects that cold front No. 7 could mark the beginning of more frequent and more intense cold fronts throughout Mexico. Its forecast models suggest the second half of November could see several intense cold snaps and December could be unusually cold this year. 

Today’s rain forecast

After a rainy weekend in several regions of Mexico, intense precipitation remains in the forecast for Monday and Tuesday. 

Low-pressure systems over eastern and southeastern Mexico are mixing with humidity drifting inland from the Pacific, the Gulf and the Caribbean, according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN). 

This will produce heavy rains in the southeastern states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero, as well as rain storms in the Yucatán Peninsula and across central Mexico from coast to coast, including the Valley of Mexico. 

The rains will continue on Tuesday, with intense storms forecast for Veracruz, Puebla, Tlaxcala, Oaxaca, Hidalgo, México state, Guerrero, Morelos and Mexico City.

The rains will diminish as cold front No. 7 dissipates on Wednesday.

With reports from Meteored, El Financiero and Excelsior

Tulum International Airport celebrates its one-millionth passenger

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MND Staff
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The Tulum International Airport opened in December 2023.
The Tulum International Airport opened in December 2023. (@MaraLezama/X)

Tulum International Airport has celebrated the arrival of its one-millionth passenger, almost one year after it opened.  

“We’re celebrating a historic achievement for Quintana Roo!” Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa wrote on her official X account. “Tulum International Airport ‘Felipe Carrillo Puerto’ welcomed its one-millionth passenger, exceeding all expectations since its opening.”

Gerardo Treviño Zúñiga, from Laredo, Tamaulipas, was the millionth passenger to arrive in Tulum after traveling on a flight from Monterrey with VivaAerobus on Sunday. He was also among the first passengers at the airport when it opened in December 2023. 

The milestone is “a significant event that reflects the confidence the world has in Mexico,” Lezama continued.  

The Quintana Roo governor pointed out that when the airport opened, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) estimated it would receive 700,000 passengers and operate 4,500 flights in its first year. However, it has exceeded expectations, having accumulated over 7,790 operations and one million passengers in 11 months. 

“With this growth rate, we expect the airport to close 2024 with 10,100 total operations and 1,300,000 passengers, consolidating itself as a hub of connectivity for the Mexican Caribbean,” Lezama said, adding that there has been a steady increase in passenger traffic at all of the state’s airports.  

Quintana Roo is the only state in Mexico with four international airports, including airports in Cancún, Cozumel, Tulum and Chetumal.

After the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), Cancún is the second most-visited airport in the country and the primary airport for incoming international travelers. Tulum, on the other hand, is the eighth most-visited airport by international travelers. 

Lezama said that her government is committed “to ensuring that this growth translates into tourism that promotes social justice and benefits every corner of the Mexican Caribbean.” 

With reports from Milenio

Hugs Not Walls event briefly reunites families separated by Mexico-US border

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MND Staff
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A woman in a blue shirt and temporary wrist band kisses a younger man with sun glasses on the forehead, with an American flag waving in the background.
A family embrace at the 2023 edition of Hugs Not Walls in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. (Juan Ortega/Cuartoscuro)

Families separated by the Mexico-United States border briefly reunited on Saturday during the annual Hugs Not Walls event held on a stretch of the Rio Grande in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua.

Members of almost 200 families — some of whom hadn’t seen each other for years — shared hugs, kisses and time together during the event organized by the Border Network for Human Rights.

A man and woman stand backs to the camera, wearing Hugs Not Walls event T-shirts and looking at a channelized section of the Rio Grande river along the Mexico-US border.
The Border Center for Human Rights has been organizing Hugs Not Walls since 2016. (Nacho Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

The gathering on a makeshift bridge across the Rio Grande allowed Mexicans who live in Mexico to meet with family members who reside in the United States, some of whom may not have legal status in the U.S. and therefore cannot easily return home after a visit to Mexico.

Shortly before Saturday’s reunion commenced, one Ciudad Juárez resident told the Associated Press that he was looking forward to seeing his United States-based sister.

“I haven’t seen her for a year, and trust me, even though it has only been one year, I feel it has been an eternity because we were always together,” said Samuel Sandoval.

“We ate together, we spent time together. … That’s why I’m looking forward to seeing my sister. I really want to see her and hug her,” he said.

Separated families embrace in reunion at US-Mexico border | REUTERS

A Reuters video showed a U.S.-based mother embracing her Mexico-based son, who was clearly overcome with emotion.

Brenda Gómez took part in another parent-child reunion on the Mexico-U.S. border.

“It was a beautiful experience to see my father, to embrace him, to feel the love of a father” said Gómez, who lives in Mexico.

“I hope God’s will is fulfilled with the upcoming elections [in the United States]. I hope God’s will is done during the election. That the right person will allow them to keep on doing this event,” she said.

“This allows many people to meet with relatives who they can’t see.”

This year, Hugs Not Walls took place just three days before Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election, in which immigration and border security are key battle lines in the contest between Democratic Party candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Republican Party nominee and former president Donald Trump.

Fernando García, executive director and founder of the Border Network for Human Rights, said that security at the border was notably greater this year than when previous editions of the event were held.

The presence of soldiers and barbed wire was less noticeable at past events, like this one in 2021, than this year, according to border network director Fernando García. (Nacho Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

“We did not have barbed wire, we did not have so many soldiers deployed in our community,” he said, referring to past family reunions on the border between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, Texas.

“The barbed wire had to be opened so that the families could have this event,” said García, who formerly worked as a photojournalist in California.

He predicted that migration into the United States will continue no matter who wins the U.S. presidential election. Family reunions on the border will continue as well, García said.

“The border, deportation and immigration policies are separating families,” he said at Saturday’s event.

“You will see children and parents separated, spouses not living together,” García said.

In an article published in July, the Washington D.C.-based Pew Research Institute said that an estimated 4 million unauthorized immigrants from Mexico were living in the United States.

That figure “was the lowest number since the 1990s,” the think tank said, adding that “in 2022, Mexico accounted for 37% of the nation’s unauthorized immigrants, by far the smallest share on record.”

With reports from AP 

Domestic spending buoyed strong growth in the tourism sector this summer

By
MND Staff
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The new data shows that the overall 5.8% growth in tourism GDP results from a 7% year-on-year increase in tourism services provided and a 1% rise in tourism goods sold.
The new data shows that the overall 5.8% growth in tourism GDP results from a 7% year-on-year increase in tourism services provided and a 1% rise in tourism goods sold. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

New data from the national statistics agency (INEGI) shows Mexico’s tourism sector continues to grow in 2024, a trend that has been unabated since the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2021.

The data reveals that second-quarter economic growth in the tourism sector reached 5.8% compared to last year.

Tourists take a selfie on a beach in Cancún
The data indicates that spending by Mexican tourists rose 2.6% while spending by foreign tourists in Mexico dipped by 2.5%. (Cuartoscuro)

On Thursday, INEGI released its report on Quarterly Tourism Activity Indicators for this year’s second quarter. 

The new data shows that the overall 5.8% growth in tourism GDP results from a 7% year-on-year increase in tourism services provided and a 1% rise in tourism goods sold, the news site Aristegui Noticias reported.

Though foreign visitors in Mexico often drive tourism spending, overall tourism consumption in Q2 rose 1.9% primarily because of spending by domestic tourists, INEGI found.

The data indicates that spending by Mexican tourists rose 2.6%, while spending by foreign tourists dipped by 2.5% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to Q2 of 2023.

The number of people employed in Mexico's tourism sector during Q2 of 2024 rose to over 4.8 million
The number of people employed in Mexico’s tourism sector during Q2 of 2024 rose to over 4.8 million, constituting 9% of Mexico’s employed population. (Cuartoscuro)

Compared to the first trimester of the year, the numbers were less positive.

Impacting the calculations this year was the fact that the Easter Week (Semana Santa) holiday — popular in Mexico for domestic travelers — fell in the first quarter of the year for the first time since 2018. As a result, tourism-related growth in the first quarter was unusually strong.

INEGI data for Q2 of 2024 bore this out as tourism-related GDP was down slightly — 0.4% — when compared to Q1 of this year. Meanwhile, tourism spending in Q2 this year contracted by 1% as compared to Q1.

Tourism jobs in Mexico on the rise

In addition to the solid revenue numbers, employment in Mexico’s tourism sector also rose considerably in the second quarter.

In September, Mexico’s then-Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco announced that the number of people employed in the tourism sector during Q2 of 2024 rose to over 4.8 million, a number which could include temporary and contract workers.

This boosted tourism employment to constitute 9% of Mexico’s employed population, according to the website Travel 2 LatAm, and represented a 0.6% increase over employment in the tourism goods and services production sector during the first quarter of 2024. 

It also represented a 3.1% year-on-year increase, with 148,058 more people employed in the tourism sector during Q2 2024 than were employed in Q2 2023.

Total tourism employment during 2024’s second quarter was also significantly above the record figure in the first quarter of 2020, when approximately 4.5 million people were employed in the sector. 

In raw numbers, the tourism sector employed 373,496 more people by the end of 2024’s second quarter than it did before the pandemic hit.

With reports from Aristegui Noticias and Forbes México

Mexico’s religious bread pudding, perfect for the holidays

By
Deborah McCoy
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Capirotada holds a special significant for devout Mexicans - which makes it the perfect choice coming into the holiday season. (Canva)

Bread pudding has been around for a very long time, dating back to around the 11th century, when it first emerged in England. It didn’t take long for the dish to spread to other regions, with savory versions becoming popular in Spain. In fact, that’s where the capirotada hales, though it took about four centuries for a recipe to evolve. In fact, it was influenced by earlier Roman fare like sala cattabia, which soaked stale bread with various ingredients. The Spanish, however, embellished the concept, changed it, and brought the dish with them when they colonized Mexico, in the early 16th century. 

The Mexicans took the Spanish capirotada and infused it with local ingredients and flavors to make it their own. They used bolillo (a type of bread) and piloncillo (unrefined sugar) as well as raisins, cinnamon, cloves, and even cheese. Depending upon regional adaptations, they even incorporated dried or tropical fruits and nuts (our recipe, for example, includes bananas). But the main difference is the moisture. 

capirotada
A traditional Mexican capirotada. (Canva)

Unlike European bread puddings, traditional Mexican capirotada gain moisture and flavor because of the syrup they are baked in (a combo of piloncillo dissolved in water or milk with added spices). It therefore has more of a “layered texture” than its custard counterpart and is less mushy. Whereas European bread puddings will virtually all taste the same, Mexican capirotada will taste very different depending upon the area of Mexico in which it is created and the ingredients which are added. 

But let’s not forget its cultural impact. Capirotada is most traditionally associated with Lent and Easter, with each ingredient having deep religious symbolism. The bread represents the body of Christ; piloncillo syrup represents His blood; cinnamon sticks represent the wood of the cross; while whole cloves symbolize the nails used to pierce His hands and feet. 

This bread pudding is not only a culinary delight, but also expresses the faith and tradition of the Mexican people and their culture. I think it would make a wonderful dessert for any festive occasion, and with the holidays coming up, what better time is there to dig in?

Capirotada:

Capirotada
Recipe adapted from Isabeleats.com. (Siete Foods)

Ingredients: 

  • Oil or butter, for greasing baking dish
  • 4 large bolillo bread rolls, cut into 1-inch-thick pieces (about 10-12 cups)
  • 5 Cups (1230 g) nonfat milk (leche descremada)
  • 1 (8-ounce) (about 225 g) cone piloncillo oscuro (or 1 1/4 Cups [312 g] dark-brown sugar, [azúcar moreno oscuro])
    • Piloncillo is made when sugar cane juice is boiled into a thick syrup and poured into cone-shaped molds to harden and is in fact, named after its conical shape. Like brown sugar, there are two types: blanco (light) and oscuro (dark). We will use oscuro for this recipe. Available in Mexican markets and supermarkets. 
  • 3 cinnamon sticks (canela en rama)
  • 2 whole cloves (clavo entero)
  • 3 large bananas (plátano), sliced into rounds
  • 1 cup (200 g) raisins (pasas)
  • 1/2 cup (55 g) sliced almonds (almendras en rodajas) (Some recipes use peanuts [cacahuetes], your choice.)
  • 2 cups (224 g) shredded Oaxaca cheese (or any white cheese like Monterey Jack, Provolone, or Mozzarella)

Instructions: 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/175C. 
  • Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with oil or butter. Set aside.
  • Place the cubed bolillo bread onto a large baking sheet. 
  • Bake for 5 minutes so that bread becomes slightly toasted and dried. 
  • Remove from oven and set aside.
  • Put the milk, piloncillo, cinnamon sticks, and cloves into a large pot, and over medium-high heat, whisk, and bring to a gentle boil.
  • Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, uncovered, whisking occasionally. 
  • Remove from heat and discard cinnamon sticks and cloves.

Assemble the capirotada: 

  • Spread half of the toasted bread in a single layer in the prepared baking dish. 
  • Top with all the banana slices, half the raisins, half the sliced almonds (or peanuts) and half the shredded cheese. 
  • Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients to make one more layer.
  • Carefully pour the sweetened milk over the capirotada, paying close attention to soak the bread on the edges.
  • Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 15 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for 15 minutes longer.
  • Remove from the oven, let cool for 5 minutes, and serve warm. Or let it cool completely, cover and refrigerate, and serve cold.

Disfruta!

Deborah McCoy is the one-time author of mainstream, bridal-reference books who has turned her attention to food, particularly sweets, desserts and fruits. She is the founder of CakeChatter™ on FaceBook and X (Twitter), and the author of four baking books for “Dough Punchers” via CakeChatter (available @amazon.com). She is also the president of The American Academy of Wedding Professionals™ (aa-wp.com).

 

This Guanajuato grape was hands down the best Mexican wine I’ve tried

By
Bel Woodhouse
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2
Viñedos Los Arcángeles
What makes this particular bottle so magical? Mexico News Daily columnist and self-confessed wine aficionado Bel Woodhouse has the details. (Viñedos Los Arcángeles/Photos by Bel Woodhouse)

I’m a wine lover. And Viñedos Los Arcángeles wines in the Guanajuato wine region were hands down the best Mexican wine I’ve had. Love goes into the vines and you can taste it. 

When I say I’m a wine lover, I mean it. I look forward to wine o’clock each day and enjoying a glass of red with dinner. Or watching the Caribbean sunset from my balcony with a glass in hand. It’s my favorite thing to do, and in my house, wine time is sacred. 

Viñedo Los Arcángeles grapes on the tree
The standout vineyard was Viñedo Los Arcángeles in Guanajuato.

So, for me, a trip to explore the wineries of Querétaro and Guanajuato was a trip. Of course, enjoying tastings at each winery was included in the budget. After all, what kind of a wine lover would I be if I didn’t try all the wines? And when I say all the wines, I mean all the wines. 

The highlight of my trip was Viñedo Los Arcángeles, near Dolores Hidalgo. This vineyard in Guanajuato produces all-natural wines. And the cherry on top: owner Ulises Ruiz and talented winemaker Paola Bermudez gave me a tour.

Viñedo Los Arcángeles

This wasn’t your average wine tasting. As luck would have it, the harvest had just finished. I found Ulises and Paola in the workshop, pressing the grapes after harvest. They were gracious enough to welcome me with open arms, sharing the entire process. From harvest to pressing to the fermentation tank, barrel aging and finally the bottle. We tried them all. 

Guanajuato is famed for it’s wineries.

Tasting thirteen different wines, I liked — even loved — every single one. Seven of these, both red and white, were straight from the fermentation tank. Something I had never tried before. Smoother than expected, there was a mellow sweetness to them. It was fascinating listening to Ulises share his expertise. Having studied in France, Germany and the United States, he knows his way around wine. 

Honestly, I can say that it’s the first time in my life that I have enjoyed every single wine. Usually, I love my reds; the bolder the better, and white wines don’t appeal to my palate. But the Sauvignon Blanc was divine all three times I tried it — from the fermentation tank, the barrel and the bottle. What can I say? I’m nothing if not thorough.

Is all Mexican wine good?

Okay, I just said that Los Arcángeles wines are outstanding, but is all Mexican wine good? In my experience, many have been great. 

A selection of Viñedo Los Arcángeles wines that were sampled.
A selection of Viñedo Los Arcángeles wines that were sampled.

But let’s look at the bigger picture: Mexican winemakers are creating delicious wines that are ranking at the top globally. Mexican wines are winning gold and grand gold medals in major competitions like Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. These golds come as Mexico competes with iconic wine-producing countries like Italy, Spain, and France. 

How can you choose a good bottle of Mexican wine, you may ask? I suggest visiting a good wine region and trying them. If that’s not on your agenda or something that doesn’t interest you, then choosing wine from a good region helps. 

Luckily, Mexico has several good wine regions.

Where is Mexico’s wine country? 

Mexican wine country is more extensive than you may have realized. Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California and Valle de Parras in Coahuilia are ranked number one. But there are 14 wine-producing states. 

A map showing Mexico’s primary wine destinations.(Sectur)

Remember, Mexico is large and has many different climates. Many of the country’s regions are mountainous, with ideal climates and soil for producing high-quality wines. Wine has been produced in Mexico since the colonial period, and the industry’s growth is helping boost Mexico’s reputation as a wine travel destination. 

The four most important wine grape-producing regions of Mexico are Baja California, Coahuila, Querétaro and Guanajuato. At least that’s what Jorge, the sommelier at the Cuna de Tierra winery in Dolores Hidalgo, told me. And he’s a smart cookie who’s passionate about wine, so I believe every word.

Which was my favorite wine?

Viñdos Los Arcángeles’ 2019 Cabernet Franc was heaven. 

Mexico Correspondent for International Living, Bel is an experienced writer, author, photographer and videographer with 500+ articles published both in print and across digital platforms. Living in the Mexican Caribbean for over 7 years now she’s in love with Mexico and has no plans to go anywhere anytime soon. 

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