The Day of the Dead is a busy tourism period for many countries but perhaps few rake in as much as Mexico does on its carnivals and parades on the Day of the Dead. The government expects to receive over 2.1 million visitors, leading to a tourism spend of USD 1.8 billion.

The celebrations of the Day of the Dead are specially popular in many Latin American countries, with parades and carnivals held all around. One of the biggest centres of these celebrations is Mexico which is looking forward to its first celebrations since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Mexican government says it estimates that the economic spill derived from tourism in Mexico during the celebration of the Day of the Dead, from October 28 to November 2, 2022, will be USD 1.8 billion. Mexican Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marques estimates that about 2.1 million tourists are likely to visit the country between October 28 and November 2.

The minister adds that compared to the Day of the Dead celebrations in 2019, this year’s expectations mean a recovery of 95 pc in tourism industry. Just the Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City is expected to attract over 1 million people and generate an economic spillover of USD 45.5 million for tourism services.

Torruco Marques pointed out that during these six days, the expected economic spill for lodging is expected to be USD 191 million and hotel occupancy nationwide is estimated to be 56.1 pc, a significant growth over the same period of 2021 when the general occupancy during these festivities was 51.7 pc. The Tourism Minister adds that of the total visitors expected to arrive at a hotel, while about 1.5 million or 73.9 pc will be Mexican nationals, just over 26 pc or 565,000 tourists will be international.

Torruco Marques stressed that additionally, it is expected that in this season, another 2.4 million national tourists will stay in a different type of accommodation, such as houses of either family or friends, as well as in the so-called second homes. The expectation is that in total 4 million national tourists will travel through Mexico during the period of the Day of the Dead festivities. It is also estimated that another 283,000 tourists, both domestic and foreign, will stay in shared accommodations.

During this period, hotels in Puerto Vallarta are expected to see the highest occupancy rate of 73 pc, followed by Los Cabos at 72.7 pc and Mexico City at 72.6 pc. Due to the Day of the Dead Parade in Mexico City, an occupancy percentage of 77.9 pc is expected, with 78,000 tourists staying in hotel rooms on the day of the parade, leading to tourism receipts of USD 4.1 million for lodging in the capital of the country.