The total number of international tourists arriving in Mexico by air experienced a 35.2% increase in June 2010 compared with the same month the previous year marking an impressive first half of the year for the Mexico tourism industry.
In all, 818,278 tourists visited Mexico in June, versus 605,435 who visited in June 2009. Of those, some 573,016 travellers arrived by air from the U.S., representing a 23.7% growth, but even more impressive are the 41,184 tourists that arrived from Canada; 21,322 more than in June 2009 – a whopping increase of 107.4%.
“We feel these numbers are evidence of the strength and quality of Mexico’s destinations,” said Mexico Secretary of Tourism Gloria Guevara. “Despite all that’s going on in the world today, the traveller knows he or she can come to Mexico and find unique vacation experiences offering not only our famous sun and beach destinations, but the chance for archeological, culinary and artistic experiences as well. Mexico is the only place on the earth where you can experience all that in a single trip.”
Secretary of Tourism Gloria Gueva Manzo recently announced that hotels in Mexico have experienced substantial growth throughout the country. The number of available hotel rooms in Mexico has increased 4.6% during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2009. According to the Datatur System, this growth was recorded in 56 of the 70 destinations that are monitored by this department.
Cruise travel is also booming. The rise in Canadian cruise passengers was a healthy 9% compared to the same time last year. The number of American cruise passengers in the first four months of 2010 increasee 6% compared to 2009.
Last year, Mexican ports received 5 million cruise passengers. This year, the ports expect to receive nearly 6 million. In fact, some carriers want to increase their presence in order to accommodate the larger demand of cruises into Mexico. In 2009, cruise tourism alone generated an economic spillover into Mexico of 500 million dollars, despite the economic crisis and influenza.
