Tourism in Mexico in an uptrend

Tourism private organizations estimate that Mexico received 22.5 million foreign tourists in 2010. This represents a 4.6% improvement against 2009, and places the country near its peak in 2008 (22.6 million tourists).

These figures appear to be against the common assumption that insecurity is affecting this important economic activity for the country (according to the Ministry of Tourism, it holds for 7.5 million employments). What statistics show is that the effect of insecurity reflects on the destinations chosen by foreign visits. The 12 main destinations for foreign tourists according to hotel occupancy concentrate more of the national share this year (from 48% in 2009 to 50% in 2010).

More good news are that foreign tourists increased their per capita spending, being $450.80 USD, 2.5% more than last year.

Regarding local tourism, there are no precise figures of its volume. Some estimates are that it is around 5 to 7 times bigger than foreign tourists. Except for Mexico City, their main destinations are clearly different (Acapulco and Guadalajara for local tourism, and Cancun and Mayan Riviera for foreign tourists). Insecurity may appear to have the same effect, not to diminish local tourism, but to change its destinations. For example, Monterrey’s hotel occupancy dropped down 12% on 2010, and some estimates are that North and Northeast had a 30% decrease on its occupancy.

For 2011 there are positive perspectives, with big differences between private and public estimates.

	Millions of foreign tourists	Millions of USD
Touristic national confederation	22.6	$12,600
Ministry of Tourism	26	$15,500

It will be important to keep an eye on how the mix of destinations may change due to insecurity, and consider how the Panamerican Games in Guadalajara may influence this activity; however, it seems that tourism will finally recover the levels of 2008.