Got 1 min? Tourism in Mexico surpassed pre-pandemic numbers in 2023

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January 15, 2024

Foreign tourists enjoy Chichén Itzá in Yucatán, Mexico — Mexico received over US $2.46 billion in revenue from foreign tourists in May. (Martin Zetina/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico saw a surge in national and international tourism in 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and driving revenue to new highs.

The head of the Tourism Ministry (Sectur), Miguel Torruco Marqués, said that enhanced air connectivity has been instrumental in increasing tourism, and boosting its economic benefits.

Tourists in Mexico — 19.5 million foreign visitors entered Mexico for tourism or business in 2023. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

How many passengers traveled by air in Mexico?

Between January and November 2023, 108 million passengers traveled in Mexico on national and international flights. Of this figure, 58.2 million passengers traveled on domestic flights, representing a 12.6% increase over the same period in 2022 and a 19.1% increase over figures registered in 2019.

Meanwhile, 19.5 million foreign visitors entered Mexico for tourism or business, an increase of 5.8% compared to the same period in 2022, which registered 18.7 million entries.

How many tourists stayed in hotels?

From January to November, Mexico saw over 78 million tourists check in to hotel rooms, a staggering increase of 59.6% compared to the same period of 2022.

Out of the total number of tourists staying in hotels, 58.2 million (74.4%) were Mexican nationals and 20 million (25.6%) were foreign.

Hotel occupancy in beach towns was up 2.7% from January to November 2023, with some 135,695 occupied rooms.

The destinations that saw the greatest number of occupied hotel rooms were: Playacar (83.5%), Akumal (81.2%), Cabo San Lucas (76.8%), Cancun (74.9%), Nuevo Nayarit (72.9%) and Puerto Vallarta (71.5%).

Meanwhile, city destinations saw 122,999 occupied rooms during the same period — a jump of 1.9% compared to 2022.

How much revenue did international tourism generate?

The foreign currency earnings from international visitors between January and November 2023 amounted to US $27.4 billion — 9.8% more than in the same period of 2022. This figure also exceeds by 24.1% the revenue recorded between January and November 2019, which was US $22.9 million.

Meanwhile, the average spent by international tourists who traveled to Mexico by air from January to November 2023 was US $1,127.

In a statement, Torruco estimates that expenditure from international visitors will amount to US $30.9 billion this year.

Mexico News Daily

726 migrants rescued from warehouse in Tlaxcala

By

Cat Rainsford

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January 15, 2024

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963259_Tlaxcala Rescate de Migrantes-1_impreso — The migrants were found after an anonymous caller alerted the authorities to an increase in activity at an abandoned warehouse. (Alaín Hernández/Cuartoscuro)

Federal authorities rescued 726 mostly Central American migrants from an abandoned warehouse in Cuaxomulco, Tlaxcala, on Sunday, where they were believed to have been held by human traffickers.

The group was made up of migrants from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Ecuador, including 75 unaccompanied minors, according to a statement by the National Immigration Institute (INM).

Paramedics treated the group for dehydration and shock but found them to be in stable health. (Alaín Hernández/Cuartoscuro)

They were discovered thanks to an anonymous caller to an emergency number, who reported seeing two trucks driving into an abandoned urban warehouse. This prompted a rescue operation coordinated by the INM, the Defense Ministry (Sedena) and the National Guard (GN).

During the operation, security forces arrested four alleged human traffickers who had been guarding the warehouse, according to the INM. The Tlaxcala state government later said that a total of six men had been arrested and transferred to the state Attorney General’s Office.

The group of rescued migrants was found to include 75 unaccompanied children and adolescents, 108 single women, 399 single men, and 144 members of 45 households. The single adults were moved to a nearby center for immigration processing, while the minors and families were transferred to a local branch of the National System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF).

According to local media reports, the migrants confirmed that they had been taken to the warehouse aboard two trucks, and left there while waiting for onward transport.

Paramedics treated the group for dehydration and shock but found them to be in stable health. One woman who was eight months pregnant was transferred to a hospital for gynecological care.

Several criminal groups involved in human trafficking and sex trafficking operate in Tlaxcala, according to local media reports. These include the Hernández Velásquez family – a clan that has been active since at least 2001 in forcing migrant women into prostitution in the United States.

Migrants traveling through Mexico are increasingly vulnerable to kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs. This is the third group of migrants to be rescued so far this year, after two smaller groups were rescued in Tamaulipas in early January.

With reports from Infobae and Reforma

The week in photos from Mexico: Campeche to San Miguel de Allende

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MND Staff

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January 13, 2024

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Band plays in a church — Jan. 6: Hundreds made the pilgrimate to Zoquito, Zacatecas to visit the largest "Niño Dios" figure in the world, over six meters high, and celebrated on Epiphany (Three Kings' Day). (ADOLFO VLADIMIR /CUARTOSCURO.COM)

Take a visual tour of Mexico — from a protest in Cuernavaca to a festival in Chiapas — with this selection of pictures from the week.

Mexico City

Lerma, Campeche

Jan 8: In the Lerma community in the city of Campeche there is a 150-year-old tradition of a three-day festival celebrating the Three Kings that includes, music, dances and food. (MICHAEL BALAM/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

Cuernavaca, Morelos

Jan. 8: Friends of the artist and activist María Fernanda Rejón Molina gathered at the Cortés Palace to protest her murder and demand justice. Rejón Molina was found on Dec. 23 on the Autopista del Sol highway. (MARGARITO PÉREZ RETANA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

Celaya, Guanajuato

Jan. 9: Firefighters in Celaya honor their comrade, Felipe Jiménez Sánchez, who was shot and killed in the line of duty while attending to a burning vehicle. (DIEGO COSTA/CUARTOSCURO.COM)

Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas

Jan. 9: The Fiesta Grande of Chiapa de Corzo includes various activities and traditions, such as the parade of the Chuntaes: men and women in elegant dresses and makeup who come out to dance on the city’s streets. (ISABEL MATEOS /CUARTOSCURO.COM)

San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato

Jan. 11: A dramatic sunset over the San Francisco Temple in San Miguel de Allende. (Travis Bembenek)

Monterrey, Nuevo León

Jan. 13: The Environment Ministry of Nuevo León issued an alert for high particle pollution in the Monterrey metro area, after strong winds and dry conditions increased the level of dust in the air. (GABRIELA PÉREZ MONTIEL / CUARTOSCURO.COM)

When did Mexico City get so cool? A perspective from our CEO

By

Travis Bembenek

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January 13, 2024

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Reforma avenue and Angel of Independence in Mexico City — Take a whirlwind tour of Mexico City with MND CEO Travis Bembenek. (Cuartoscuro)

How and when did Mexico City get so cool?

The short answer is, it always has been — just most people outside of Mexico City (CDMX) didn’t know it yet.

When people ask me what my favorite cities in the world are, I have responded for years with London, Hong Kong and Mexico City. Most people would understand the first two, and be mildly shocked by the third one.

I admit, Mexico City wasn’t always easy to love. The smog used to be some of the worst in the world. The crime rate was very high. The traffic was beyond terrible. I remember as a college student visiting Mexico City multiple times and spending the day walking for miles and miles around the city, only to come back in the evening with my eyes and nose burning from the air pollution.

But now, the city is — finally — getting the recognition I think it has always deserved for being one of the world’s great metropolises. Just recently, it was named the best city for culture in the world by Time Out Magazine.

To really appreciate modern day CDMX, I think that it’s critical to first understand two things about it: the city’s geography and its history.

First, the geography. Despite being at 2,240 meters elevation, Mexico City is in a valley, surrounded by soaring peaks including two volcanoes (nearly 6,000 meters high), one of which is still very much active. The city was built on a lake (Lago de Texcoco) and canals and waterways abound.

The history of the city is fascinating. Legend has it that the Mexica (also known as Aztec) people were searching for a place to establish a city, and that it should be located where they saw an eagle, eating a snake, on top of a cactus. Low and behold, they found that very scene on an island in the center of Tenochtitlan Lake in 1325, and the rest is history. That very spot is where the Mexica empire rose up, in the heart of modern-day Mexico City, where the Templo Mayor is located, in the city’s massive Zócalo square.

That eagle and cactus scene is, of course, Mexico’s national coat of arms and adorns the country’s flag.

While the lake has dried up, and the canal system built by the Mexica has mostly vanished, one of the world’s largest, most fascinating cities remains.

There are three can’t-miss destinations for archaeology lovers in CDMX: the ruins of the Templo Mayor, the ancient city of Teotihuacán (the massive pyramids just outside of the city), and the world-famous National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepec park.

For urban park lovers, there are multiple places to check out; fabulous for people-watching and giving you a vibe of how residents play in the city.

I think that the best ones are the massive Bosque de Chapultepec (Chapultepec Park) and its many sights (zoo, museums, castle, walking paths, etc); Parque México in the Roma Norte neighborhood (hipster cool young people hanging out); and the newer Parque La Mexicana (business people strolling around or having lunch) in Santa Fe. Each park has a totally different vibe, but each is worth visiting.

It’s impossible to try to list all of the diverse and varied neighborhoods of the city, but a few of my top picks include the Centro Histórico, Roma Norte, Polanco, San Angel, and Coyoacán.

Each has a totally different feel, and each in its own right is a perfect example of the restaurants, stores, galleries and people that make the city so cool.

Each will also likely surprise you with the amount and variety of trees and urban vegetation. Xochimilco, in the south, is a place so unique it is absolutely worth checking out.

This neighborhood is the only one where the original islands (chinampas) and canals from Mexica times remain, and today you can still see the small plots of land that they used to grow crops for hundreds of years.

Today, you can take a guided boat in the neighborhood to eat some tacos sold to you from another boat, have some drinks or order up some mariachi serenades. This is an absolutely unique and awesome experience to do with family or friends.

Mexico City has long been know for its art scene, but lately it is getting more recognition than ever.

There are Diego Rivera murals all around town; there is the very popular Frida Kahlo museum in Coyoacán; the Museo Soumaya (founded by Carlos Slim) is known for its unique architectural design and its collection; and the annual Zona Maco contemporary art fair is one of the most important in Latin America.

A recent visit to Mexico City reinforced to me just how cool the city is.

My wife and I arrived early on Sunday morning, checked into our hotel, and proceeded to walk for miles and miles on Reforma avenue with hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists. The city shuts down multiple major streets each Sunday morning and early afternoon to allow everyone to enjoy the city without the noise and stress of the traffic. It truly makes for a magical experience. There are runners, walkers, bikers, rollerbladers, Zumba classes, Bachata dancers — pretty much any form of exercise you can imagine was being done — all with a harmony one often does not see in such a large, diverse city.

Of course it is impossible to do justice to a city like CDMX in one short column, but hopefully I have inspired you a little bit to get out and explore the metropolis that so many people already knew — and so many more people are just now discovering — is so cool!

Travis Bembenek is the CEO of Mexico News Daily and has been living, working or playing in Mexico for over 27 years.

From mild to wild, salsa macha takes you on a next-level flavor ride

By

Sandra Gancz Kahan

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January 13, 2024

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shutterstock_2134655203 — The key feature of this salsa is the delightfully crunchy nuttiness. (Shutterstock)

If you like chili crisp, you’re going to love salsa macha, a traditional Mexican condiment enjoyed by diners all over the country. This tangy delight — a combination of dried chiles, fried garlic, toasted nuts and seeds — earned the 2020 Most Valuable Condiment Award from The New York Times Magazine, and it’s easy to see why.

The meaning behind the name is up for debate. Some say “macha” stems from the verb “machacar,” referring to its traditional preparation method of being crushed in a molcajete. Others claim the name comes from the “macho” courage needed to handle its intense spiciness.

The roots of salsa macha can be traced back to Orizaba, a city in Veracruz, where the indigenous Totonacs first ground dried chili peppers with salt, to obtain a spicy, oil-free paste. The Olmecs of Oaxaca also concocted something similar, with the addition of palm oil. The modern version of salsa macha, like so much of Mexico, is a fusion that evolved post-colonization, as olive oil and garlic were brought to America from Spain and added to traditional recipes.

Salsa macha traditionally incorporates a variety of dried chiles, – though usually some combination of chile de árbol, ancho, morita and chipotle. A generous amount of oil, often a neutral variety like grapeseed or olive oil, provides a luscious texture which is lovely drizzled on its own, scooped up when the ingredients have sunk to the bottom of the jar.

The sauce has a long shelf life because oil is a great medium for preservation – although a jar of this versatile salsa won’t last long in your pantry because you’ll be tempted to add it to almost everything you cook.

The key feature of this salsa is the delightfully crunchy nuttiness, imparted by the peanuts and sesame seeds. The more experimental cooks among us are encouraged to instead try adding pumpkin seeds, walnuts or pecans for varying textures and flavors.

The rest of the sauce is a beautiful intermingling of ingredients. Garlic plays a crucial role in enhancing the savory notes of Salsa Macha. Sliced and fried until golden brown, it contributes both aroma and depth of flavor. A dash of vinegar adds acidity to balance the richness of the oil and provide a subtle tangy undertone. Light brown sugar is sometimes added to provide a touch of sweetness, harmonizing with the heat and enhancing the overall flavor profile. Sea salt is used to bring out all the natural flavors.

While there are some good store-bought alternatives, adventurous chefs may want to try making their own. Crafting your salsa macha from scratch allows you to tailor its spice and crunch to your liking. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste, playing with the chile varieties, or swapping in different seeds or nuts.

Salsa macha traditionally incorporates a variety of dried chiles. (Freepik)

Crunchy and smoky salsa macha

2 cups olive or grapeseed oil
8 dried ancho chile peppers, stems and seeds removed
4 dried morita chile peppers, stems and seeds removed
2 dried chiles de árbol, stems and seeds removed
6 garlic cloves peeled and sliced
⅔ cup roasted peanuts
2 tablespoons white sesame seeds
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon light brown sugar
Sea salt, to taste

In a heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium low heat. Add the chiles and fry, stirring often, for about 8 minutes until the chiles are puffed. Using a slotted spoon, transfer chiles to a bowl.

Add the garlic to the oil and cook over low, stirring often until toasted golden brown. Be watchful to avoid burning the garlic. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the garlic to the bowl with the chiles.

Add the peanuts and sesame seeds to the oil and fry until very lightly browned. Add the vinegar and sugar, and let the vinegar completely evaporate, about 1 minute.

Turn off the heat, add the chiles and garlic back to the skillet and stir to combine. Allow the entire mixture to cool in the pan, about 15 minutes.

Once cooled, briefly blitz in a blender or food processor until the nuts and chiles are chopped but before any ingredient becomes a paste. You can also reserve some of the nuts to add back at the end of the blitzing, leaving them whole. Season to taste with sea salt.

Whether you’re a spice enthusiast or just looking to add some sizzle to your culinary repertoire, salsa macha is a great way to turn your taste buds into a dance floor. Embrace the fiery fiesta of flavors, let the heat serenade your senses, and remember – salsa macha isn’t just a condiment; it’s a game-changer.

Sandra is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: [email protected]

Need a laugh? Mexican memes you don’t want to miss!

By

Sarah DeVries

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January 13, 2024

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Captura de pantalla 2024-01-12 12275 — Enjoy a great time with these memes.

Hey there, Mexican meme and humor lovers! It’s that time of the month again. Time for Mexican memes!

Here I’ll share with you my most recent curated collection, along with translations and explanations. If you’re a Spanish-language learner, I especially recommend becoming a meme connoisseur (or conocedor, if you will): they’re short, sweet, and don’t take too much explanation! Call it a hunch, but chances are things that make you laugh will stick in your brain longer.

Finally, a quick announcement: the memes article is switching to an every-other-week format rather than weekly, so be sure to keep your eye out for them – But for now, just sit back and enjoy.

Meme translation: “Dear Capricorn, stop looking at everyone like this.”

What does it meme? Ah, January: Capricorn season. There’s a whole series of these memes (one for every sign), but this one cracks me up the most because it’s just so on the nose! One of my best Capricorn friends pretty much looks exactly like this all the time. For those of you who sheepishly count astrology as a hobby, these are comedy gold!

Meme translation: “I was jus’ stabbed, where’s the nearest hospital??” (tap tap) “Just*”

What does it meme? There are spelling and grammar snobs in every language, aren’t there?

One common mistake that native Spanish speakers in Mexico (those who don’t care much about proper writing, anyway) make when writing is using the “b” and the “v” interchangeably. The pronunciation for both of them are virtually the same, kind of halfway between the ways they’d each be pronounced in English. I’ll admit that it’s grating to see, but who am I to be correcting my hosts’ writing? I’ll just let Bill keep taking care of it.

Meme translation: “Look! That dude flips his tortillas with a spatula!”

What does it meme? Have y’all seen the way people heat their tortillas around here? They don’t mess around.

Some might use a comal (a griddle) if they’re doing a lot all at once, but most people just plop them directly on top of a burning blue circle of fire on their stove, then grab them and flip them when they think it’s time to heat the other side. A few turn down the heat before they flip it at least, but in my experience, that’s not a common step.

Conclusion? They are hardcore and not at all afraid of fire. Me? I try my hardest to do it the Mexican way, but turn the flame waaaay down, before spending a few seconds to psych myself up before flipping it as fast as possible.

Meme translation: “To have love.” “To have money.” “To have a millionaire adopt me and take me to fight crime and the forces of evil with him.”

What does it meme? If you were here on New Year’s, you might be aware of the…underwear tradition. If you wear yellow underwear on the new year, it will bring you luck in money, and if you wear red, luck in love. Other variations have been introduced as well, but red and yellow are the most recognized staples. If you’ve got more lofty goals than the pedestrian wishes for love and money, you might have to get creative like that Robin wannabe!

Meme translation: “Bats locate their food using sound.” “Como la flor, como la flor (Like a flower)” “Con tanto amor (With so much love)”

What does it meme? You probably already know this fun fact about bats, which are basically blind. But did you know that in addition to locating their food from how their echos bounce off of it, they can find them by tricking the insects into singing Selena songs?

This meme had me cracking up to the point that I was actually gasping for breath. If you don’t know Selena’s famous Como la Flor song (a staple of karaoke bars everywhere) you’re missing out! And if you do know it, I dare you not to sing the next line when you hear that first part of the chorus: it’s as unlikely as Texans keeping quiet after someone sings “The stars at night are big and bright…”

That insect doesn’t stand a chance.

Meme translation: “Happy holidays to my virtual friends… I only added you to steal your memes, but your memes stole my heart.”

What does it meme? I feel this one in my bones! I am basically on Facebook and Instagram exclusively for the memes: nothing else there interests me. Thankfully the algorithms have figured this out and obliged. I’ve found some great ones, right?

Meme translation: “I will say everything, and there will be signs, and I’ll post stories because I cannot keep quiet.”

What does it meme? Y’all remember that meme format that went around for a while that was basically “When I’m rich I won’t say anything, but there will be signs” and a picture of something ridiculous like a dump truck full of chicken nuggets or something? It was popular in Spanish, too (“No diré nada pero habrán señales…”).

I’ve never identified with that though, because I can’t keep anything a secret. Lucky for my confidants, I’m pretty spacey and have a terrible memory, so more often than not promptly forget their secrets before I have a chance to tell anybody. So I’m with this bunny: if anything changes with me, you will know everything!

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, sarahedevries.substack.com.

AMLO online: The president creates his first official TikTok account

By

MND Staff

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January 12, 2024

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López Obrador sits in front of a smartphone on a phone stand, smiling — The highly communicative leader has added another social media app to his quiver. (Andrés Manuel López Obrador/X)

Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, Threads, and now TikTok.

President López Obrador has created an account on the Chinese-owned social media video-hosting service, the world’s sixth most popular social media site.

He announced Tuesday that he was joining TikTok, although his first video was posted to the platform last weekend. López Obrador joins world leaders such as Emmanuel Macron of France and Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel — but not U.S. President Joe Biden — on the site.

“Sometimes I upload videos to the [social] networks, I communicate with a lot of citizens … but I hadn’t been able to be present on a network that a lot of young people look at,” AMLO told reporters at his morning news conference.

López Obrador — well known for his slow pace of speech — said he hadn’t created a TikTok account previously because he doesn’t speak “smoothly” and most videos posted to the site are “short messages.”

However, with just nine months left in office, the president evidently changed his mind, perhaps because videos of up to 10 minutes in length can now be uploaded to the platform.

A phone screen with the TikTok app icon in focus — TikTok was the sixth most popular social media app in the world in 2023, with more than a billion active monthly users. (Solen Feyissa/Unsplash)

“I’m going to be on TikTok and I want to start on TikTok by offering an apology to a colleague who identifies as a woman, but who I said yesterday was a man dressed as a woman,” AMLO said.

He was referring to Morena party federal Deputy Salma Luévano, a trans woman he greeted during a visit to Motul, Yucatán, last week.

“I’m very respectful and I believe in freedom. And people should assume … [the gender] with which they identify. … So I’m offering an apology and send a hug to this colleague. In this way we’re starting with TikTok,” López Obrador said.

A clip of the president making his apology was in fact the fifth of six videos that had been uploaded to his TikTok account as of Friday afternoon.

AMLO shares the limelight with recently inaugurated government infrastructure projects — the Olmeca Refinery on the Tabasco coast, the Tulum Airport, the Maya Train railroad and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Interoceanic Railroad — in four of the other five videos.

In a period of days, his follower count has grown from just hundreds to around 400,000, an impressive number, but well short of his reach on Facebook (10.4 million followers), X (10.3 million), YouTube (4.1 million) and Instagram (1.4 million).

López Obrador has passed the follower count of presidential hopeful Xóchitl Gálvez on TikTok, but is still a long way off catching his political protege and ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, who has 1.6 million followers.

AMLO shows a smartphone to the audience as he stands at a podium — The president gained more than 400,000 followers since he began posting to TikTok last weekend. (LopezObrador.org.mx)

In late 2022, AMLO was ranked as the world’s 14th most influential world leader on Twitter by New York-based firm BCW.

Last September, he highlighted data that showed that he was the most-watched Spanish-language live streamer in the month of August, mainly as a result of the viewing of his morning pressers, or mañaneras.

Such is his fondness of social media that López Obrador often refers to platforms such as Facebook and X as “blessed social networks,” where anybody and everybody can voice their opinions.

In early 2021 after Donald Trump was kicked off Facebook and Twitter, AMLO floated the idea of creating a national social media network to avoid the possibility of Mexicans being censored. Nobody has the right to silence citizens even if their views are unpopular, López Obrador said at the time.

AMLO — a frequent critic of legacy media — clearly likes the opportunity social media affords him to convey unfiltered messages to citizens. He also likes the recognition that comes with being Mexico’s top political “influencer.”

Thus, he was disappointed at not being nominated for the 2024 ESLAND Awards, prizes awarded annually to content creators from Spain, Latin America and Andorra.

“They blew me off,” López Obrador said Friday when a reporter remarked that he was “very close” to being nominated.

“The truth is that is very pleasing that this circular dialogue [with reporters at the weekday mañaneras] is listened to by many people. … I was proposed as a nominee for the awards, they did a survey but I lost,” AMLO said.

“… But on this site, we’re in first place,” he said, displaying data that showed he was the “most watched” Latin American streamer in 2023.

“… The thing is that the morning press conferences are very important because … [they provide] information of interest to a lot of people. [Content creators] need to have a lot more creativity. There is creativity here, but we have the advantage that we have information about what’s happening in the country and that’s why the mañanera is watched a lot,” AMLO said.

The president’s daily pressers will be a thing of the past by the end of the year, but if López Obrador — in his retirement at his ranch in Palenque, Chiapas — ever feels the need to get a message out to a wide audience, all he’ll have to do is whip out his phone. Millions of Mexicans will be waiting.

Mexico News Daily

Got 1 min? Mexico’s tequila exports dropped for the first time in 13 years

By

Cat Rainsford

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January 12, 2024

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Tequila shots with lime — Any tariffs on tequila would push up prices paid by U.S. consumers, according to the president of the Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT). (Shutterstock)

Mexico exported 401.4 million liters of tequila in 2023 — a 4.2% drop from 2022 that represents the first time the country’s annual tequila exports have fallen in 13 years.

The Tequila Regulatory Council (CRT) blamed the drop on saturation of distribution channels and the rising cost of blue agave, the cactus used to produce the drink.

In Guanajuato — Mexico’s second-largest tequila-producing state after Jalisco, with 4,000 producers and a 20% share of the national industry’s productive value — the drop was even sharper. The state exported $25 million of tequila, mezcal and beer over the first ten nine months of the year, an annual drop of 33%.

“It’s not a debacle, it’s just the market normalizing,” said Gustavo Escobedo, head of communications for the Coordinator for the Promotion of Foreign Trade (Cofoce).

He pointed out that alcohol consumption surged during the pandemic and immediately after, making 2022 an exceptional year. Mexican tequila exports reached record highs in 2022, showing an annual increase of 34.1% over the first ten months of the year. A slight correction in 2023 is therefore to be expected, Escobedo argued.

Mexican tequila exports have been growing year-on-year since 2009, when the country shipped 136.4 million liters of the spirit. At their peak in 2022, 419 million liters were shipped, worth US $4.36 billion.

Workers harvest blue agave, the base ingredient of tequila. (Archive)

The United States is the main destination for Mexican tequila, importing 321.6 million liters in 2023. Tequila overtook whisky as the U.S.’s second most valuable spirit in 2022 and was predicted to overtake vodka in 2023. However, this is yet to be confirmed, after U.S. tequila imports dropped by 5% in 2023.

Other major importers of Mexican tequila in 2023 included Spain (8.3 million liters, down 7.1%), Germany (8.1 million liters, down 21.9%), France (6.2 million liters, up 16.2%) and the United Kingdom (5.5 million liters, up 6.8%).

Despite the slight market dip, the consultancy IMARC Group expects the global tequila market to keep on growing — from $14.7 billion in 2022, to $30.3 billion by 2028.

Mexico is the sole supplier of this market, as tequila has had a globally recognized appellation of origin (AO) since 1974. Today, Mexican law restricts its legal production to five states: Jalisco, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Nayarit and Tamaulipas.

With reports from El Economista and AM

Construction begins on US $500M binational water treatment plant in Tijuana

By

MND Staff

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January 12, 2024

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A group of politicians in hard hats pose with shovels at a construction site — U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar with Baja California Governor Mariana del Pilar and other officials at the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction for Tijuana's San Antonio de los Buenos water treatment plant. (Ken Salazar/X)

Mexico and the United States have initiated a joint construction project at the San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant in Tijuana.

The upgrade is part of an estimated US $500 million project that aims to clean up the sewage from Tijuana that ends up in San Diego Bay.

The work will refurbish an old plant that has had significant failures since 2015 and pretty much stopped working in 2017.

The binational, multiyear project is being spearheaded by Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense (Sedena) — marking yet another project under the purview of the Mexican military.

At the groundbreaking ceremony Thursday, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, emphasized the significance of environmental safeguards irrespective of borders and upcoming elections.

San Antonio de los Buenos, which receives about 25% of Tijuana’s sewage, is part of a larger commitment outlined by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), an entity created by the U.S. and Mexico in 1889.

The Tijuana River — The chanellized Tijuana River is one of the major ways city drainage ends up in the ocean. (Wikipedia Commons)

An agreement in 2022 saw the two countries commit to investing almost US $500 million in different projects in the San Diego and Tijuana region to address the flow of garbage, sediment and wastewater into the Pacific Ocean.

For more than a decade, U.S. officials have been particularly concerned about Tijuana’s sewage reaching California’s coasts, thereby forcing beach closures.

“We have an emergency situation. Our beaches have been closed every day last year and so far this year,” said Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre, who was born in San Francisco but largely raised in Mexico.

She attended the groundbreaking along with Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and other officials.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who wasn’t there, announced two months ago a completion date of September 2024 for the upgrade. His six-year term is set to end Oct. 1.

The plant is in Punta Bandera, Baja California, which is on the coast about 10 kilometers west of downtown Tijuana and 9 kilometers south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The plant’s reconstruction will involve innovative technologies and cost approximately 530 million pesos (US $31.5 million). It is being paid for through the North American Development Bank, an entity funded and run equally by the federal governments of the U.S. and Mexico to provide financing for infrastructure projects.

Wastewater treated at the reconstructed plant will potentially be repurposed for agricultural or industrial use, officials said.

With reports from La Jornada and Zeta Tijuana

Everything you need to know before planning your destination wedding in Mexico

By

Camila Sánchez Bolaño

-

January 12, 2024

6

boda-andre+alber-144 — Getting married in San Miguel provides entertainment, from exploring local artisan markets to savoring Mexican cuisine. (María Ruiz)

By definition, destination weddings involve getting married far from home. Many couples in the U.S. are now choosing to have their wedding in Mexico because it is comfortable, and direct flights are available from most major cities. This means less travel time, lower airfare costs, and more vacation days for couples and guests. Mexico has transformed into a trendy destination for weddings due to its beaches, culture, cuisine, and world-famous hospitality. It also offers a wide range of wedding venues for all different price ranges.

Many resorts in Mexico offer wedding packages that include the wedding ceremony and reception venues, catering, decorations, flowers and entertainment. Mexico is known for its rich cultural heritage, and having a wedding there allows you and your guests to experience it firsthand. You can arrange group outings for snorkeling, exploring ancient ruins, nightlife fun, or simply relaxing in a luxury spa.

before organizing your wedding in Mexico, check all legal requirements. (Unsplash)

In addition, Mexico is recognized as one of the most same-sex-friendly destinations to tie the knot. LGBTQ+ couples are welcomed especially in Cancun, Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City and the Riviera Nayarit.

What are the top places for destination weddings in Mexico?

Riviera Maya: From stunning beach backdrops to luxury all-inclusive resorts or small hotels hidden in a lush jungle, the Riviera Maya is one of the most popular places in the world for a destination wedding. The tropical climate offers warm temperatures year-round, making it the perfect setting for outdoor ceremonies. In addition to its beaches, Riviera Maya is home to natural attractions such as cenotes, ecological parks and Mayan Ruins. In 2023, Tulum, a small town in Riviera Maya, ranked among US News’ top five most affordable destination wedding locations worldwide.
Ensenada: This Baja California town is home to an amazing picturesque coastline, colorful sunsets, and beautiful landscapes, making it an ideal setting to exchange vows in a vineyard surrounded by the sounds of the ocean. Ensenada also offers snorkeling, zip-lining, and exploring the Valle de Guadalupe Wine Route.
San Miguel de Allende: The cobblestone streets and historic architecture create an atmosphere that captivates couples. Getting married in San Miguel provides entertainment, from exploring local artisan markets to savoring Mexican cuisine.
Cozumel: Located just off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, weddings in Cozumel provide the perfect blend of adventure and beauty. Add some group activities to your celebration like scuba diving in the coral reef and exploring Mayan ruins.
Mazatlán: Known as the Pearl of the Pacific, couples can take a romantic walk along its shores. Mazatlan offers water sports, eco-tours, and cultural experiences for the adventurous. If your wedding overlaps with the annual Carnival, join in with the party as locals dance to the Tambora in the streets.

How much does a destination wedding in Mexico cost?

It’s no secret that weddings are expensive most of the time. According to NerdWallet, the average couple spends almost $29,000 on a traditional wedding close to home. Destination couples spend an average of $6,700 on their wedding experience, which often includes the honeymoon. They will pay about $1,000 for airfare, $2,284 for accommodation (usually for around 7-10 days), and $3,417 for the wedding package. All-inclusive resort venues help to keep these costs low, as your hotel stay, décor, food and otherwise high-ticket items are rolled into one bundled price.

However, prices will vary depending on the region, the size of your guest list, and the wedding package you choose.

What are the legal requirements to get married in Mexico?

Knowing how to get married in Mexico is critical when planning a Mexican wedding because different states have additional marriage requirements. Here is what’s typically needed when having a legal wedding in Mexico:

You must be 18 years of age or older. If younger than 18, parental consent is required.
Proper documentation: You must present a birth certificate, passport, and tourist visa. Death and/or divorce certificates may also be required if applicable. If you’ve been previously married, you may need to wait a certain number of days before being legally allowed to re-marry in Mexico.
Early arrival: many Mexican states require you to arrive a few days before the wedding date to get a chest x-ray and blood test locally – to confirm that you are healthy and are not attempting to defraud your partner.
Witnesses: Four witnesses are needed to stand with you at the ceremony. Some resort venues can provide witnesses for you.
Marriage certificate: To be valid outside of the country, you’ll need to submit an applicable marriage form to your relevant Foreign Office/State Department. If having a religious ceremony, you must also partake in a civil service for your wedding to be legally recognized.

Once you’re officially married in Mexico, the next step is to ensure your marriage is legally recognized back home. To simplify things, many couples will hold a symbolic ceremony in Mexico and legalize their marriage in the United States/Canada afterward.

Camila Sánchez Bolaño is a journalist, feminist, bookseller, lecturer, and cultural promoter and is Editor in Chief of Newsweek en Español magazine.