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Mexico is surging in tourism, becoming an increasingly popular destination for travelers worldwide. Mexican passport holders can now travel to 159 countries visa free, making it easier for them to explore the world. Domestically, Mexico’s diverse landscapes, from stunning beaches to vibrant cultural cities, continue to attract tourists. This growing interest in both domestic and international travel highlights Mexico’s appeal as a top travel destination, with its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty drawing visitors from around the globe.

In 2022, around 42 million international overnight and same-day tourists traveled from Mexico, showing a 27 percent increase from the previous year. This growth highlights the increasing number of outbound travelers from this Latin American nation.

Travel Preferences and Influences

Mexicans predominantly favor sun and beach holidays, with 73% of respondents expressing this preference, compared to the global average of 57%. Accessibility plays a significant role in destination choices, as revealed by a Q3 2021 consumer survey. Approximately 57% of Mexican travelers prioritize accessibility, which is 5% higher than the global average.

Outbound Travel Trends

The traveler demands and flows database for 2023 shows that single travelers were the largest group among outbound tourists, representing 32.89% (7.35 million trips) of total trips. Couples made up the second-largest group, accounting for 27.84% (6.22 million trips) of overall outbound travel from Mexico.

Domestic Travel and Travel Purposes

In 2023, Mexican travelers made 259.52 million domestic trips, matching the pre-pandemic levels of 2019 (253.44 million trips). Leisure travel emerged as the fastest-growing travel purpose, increasing by 7.08% year-on-year and reaching 113.66 million travelers, constituting 43.80% of total domestic trips. Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) followed at 29.76%, business travel at 17.97%, and other personal purposes at 8.47%.

Top International Destinations

The most popular international destinations for Mexican travelers in 2023 included the United States, Spain, Canada, France, and Colombia.

Visa free Countries:

• Albania
• Andorra
• Angola
• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Aruba
• Austria
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Bolivia
• Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• British Virgin Islands
• Bulgaria
• Cayman Islands
• Chile
• Colombia
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Curacao
• Cyprus
• Czechia
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• French West Indies
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Greenland
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hong Kong (SAR China)
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Iran
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Kiribati
• Kosovo
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Macao (SAR China)
• Madagascar
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Mayotte
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Montenegro
• Montserrat
• Morocco
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• Nicaragua
• Niue
• North Macedonia
• Norway
• Palestinian Territory
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Reunion
• Romania
• San Marino
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Maarten
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Suriname
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Vatican City
• Venezuela

VOA (Visa on Arrival)

• Armenia
• Bahrain
• Burundi
• Cambodia
• Cape Verde Islands
• Comoro Islands
• Djibouti
• Egypt
• Ethiopia
• Guinea-Bissau
• Indonesia
• Jordan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Malawi
• Maldives
• Marshall Island
• Mauritania
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nepal
• Palau Islands
• Qatar
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Somalia
• St. Helena
• Tanzania
• Timor-Leste
• Türkiye
• Tuvalu
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization)

• Kenya
• New Zealand
• South Korea
• Sri Lanka

Top Airports in Mexico:

Mexico City International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Benito Juárez)

• Located in Mexico City, it is the busiest and most important airport in the country. It serves as a major hub for both domestic and international flights.

Cancún International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancún)

• Located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, this airport is a major gateway for tourists heading to the Caribbean beaches and resorts. It is the second busiest airport in Mexico.

Guadalajara International Airport (Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport)

• Located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, this airport is a key hub in western Mexico, handling a large volume of domestic and international flights.

Monterrey International Airport (General Mariano Escobedo International Airport)

• Located in Monterrey, Nuevo León, this airport serves as a crucial point for business and leisure travelers in northern Mexico.

Los Cabos International Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional de Los Cabos)

• Situated in San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, this airport is the main access point for tourists visiting the popular resort areas of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

Airlines in Mexico:

AeroMéxico

• AeroMéxico is the largest and most renowned airline in Mexico, offering an extensive network of domestic and international flights. It is known for its quality service and is a member of the SkyTeam alliance.

Volaris

• Volaris is a major low-cost airline in Mexico, providing affordable flights to numerous destinations within the country and internationally, particularly to the United States and Central America.

Interjet

• Interjet is another significant player in the Mexican airline market, known for its competitive prices and good service. It offers a range of domestic and international routes, with a focus on North and Central America.

Viva Aerobus

• Viva Aerobus is a low-cost carrier that has grown rapidly in recent years. It is known for offering some of the most affordable fares in Mexico, with a strong presence in both domestic and select international markets.

Magnicharters

• Magnicharters is a smaller, leisure-focused airline that primarily serves popular tourist destinations within Mexico. It is known for offering charter flights and package deals to vacation spots.

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