Sunday, June 22, 2025

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

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

1 COMMENT

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
A massive cruise ship towers over a dock in Cozumel, Mexico while passengers cue to board

How much tourism is too much? Cozumel weighs whether a fourth cruise dock is worth it

7
Both local tourism industry leaders and environmental activists have expressed serious concerns about the project.
An elegant dining room with a few tables surrounded by original stone walls of the historic Mexican hacienda it occupies. There are wrought iron chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a stone tile floor and traditional Mexican paintings and decor everywhere.

Mexico’s authentic travel revolution has arrived

4
Mexico's little-known tourism scheme offers travelers the chance to get back in touch with unique experiences at one-of-a-kind historic hotels.
Two women in bikinis walk down the beach in Cancun, Quintana Roo, with the city skyline in the background

Quintana Roo on track to rival Las Vegas in total hotel rooms

1
A boom in world-class hotel construction along Quintana Roo's coast has lifted the state's room capacity to where it could equal Las Vegas's in five years.