Mexico has achieved a recovery and even a growth in international tourism that reaches destinations such as Cancun and Los Cabos, among other extremely attractive markets for tourists with high purchasing power, such as the United States. However, when talking about the progress of the country as a source of tourists to other countries, there are still considerable drops in both the flow of travelers and their spending.
According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), during 2021 12.2 million Mexican tourists left for other countries, 29% less than in 2019.
This drop is similar to the one that occurs in international tourism in Mexico. Even the drop in the flow of travelers entering by air – the most representative, because it concentrates the highest spending – remains at a similar threshold: while foreign tourists by air were 26% less than in 2019, Mexicans by air in the abroad fell 27%.
However, when talking about foreign currency spending, the gap opens up more on the Mexican side. In 2021, the average expenditure of foreign tourists in Mexico by air increased 11% to 1,110.2 dollars per person, not counting the disbursement for plane tickets.
On the other hand, Mexicans spent 41% less foreign currency abroad, and even the average spending fell 20%, going from 823.7 to 662.1 dollars.
While on the side of foreign tourists there has been greater spending linked to inflationary issues and financial pressures, Mexican travelers had an upturn at the beginning of the year due to the so-called vaccine tourism, which led them to visit US destinations that offered doses to foreigners . However, from then on it was maintained, and the expectation this year has several challenges.
“By 2022 we hope to have pressure factors such as inflation and the issue of uncertainty about what is happening in Ukraine,” explains Francisco Madrid, director of the Anáhuac Tourism Research and Competitiveness Center (Cicotur).
“I don’t think it’s going to give the tourist to change their travel pattern; To the extent that the conflict remains geographically contained, we are going to see a lot of people flying to Europe”, he foresees.
Forecasts of higher spending are consistent with estimates from the tourism sector. An analysis of the Expedia travel platform estimates that this year Mexican travelers will resume their travel plans, with a tendency to spend more.
“Working adults in Mexico promised to take an average of 16 days this year, three days more than in 2021 (…) 40% of Mexicans have already booked a trip, and, based on 2021 habits, they are more likely than the most other regions of the world to splurge on upgrades, such as choosing a larger room or flying first class, visiting multiple destinations during the same trip, or booking emergency travel,” the platform says.
However, an increase in potential spending will be linked to macroeconomic conditions and even travel conditions that may affect the perception of Mexicans.
“You cannot fail to identify a very strong inflationary pressure, and that was already coming from the pandemic, which will surely be exacerbated by the issue of the war in Ukraine,” concludes Madrid.
