Mexico‘s tourism revenues grew by 7.6 pc in the third quarter of 2023 and 2024 is off to a good start. Aligning with the targets, the North American country expects an arrival of more than 9.3 million cruise passengers in 2024.
According to a press statement by the Secretary of Tourism of Mexico, Miguel Torruco Marqués, the number of cruise passengers alone would represent an increase 2.4 pc more compared to those who arrived in 2023, also exceeding the arrivals registered in 2019 by 2.6 pc.
He says that this year 3,122 cruise ships are scheduled to arrive at Mexico ports, reflecting 8 pc more than that of 2023 and 5.8 pc recovery of 2019 figures.
The Tourism Minister says that tourism revenues grew by 5 pc in 2023 and now stand higher than the corresponding figure in 2019.
Marqués adds that 2024 is oriented towards a rise in contribution of tourism to the national economy to around 8.7 pc. Of this, the expected foreign exchange income from cruise excursionists is USD 711.9 million, a growth 7.6 pc compared to 2023 and exceeding 2019 figures by 13.7 pc.
The Minister adds that this year, the port of Cozumel is scheduled to maintain the first position in the arrival of cruise excursionists nationwide and in the Gulf-Caribbean region, with a participation of 38.4 pc of the total. While in the Pacific region, the port of Ensenada will lead the arrival of cruise passengers for the region, contributing 8.9 pc of the total.
According to Marqués, the five ports that have the highest number of cruise ship arrivals scheduled are Cozumel, with 1,199 arrivals and 38.4 pc of the total, Mahahual, with 598 arrivals, which represents 19.2 pc, Ensenada at 278 arrivals and 8.9 pc, Cabo San Lucas with 225 arrivals and at 7.2 pc, and Puerto Vallarta with 167 arrivals or 5.3 pc of the total arrivals.