BajaNomad

Record Number of Tourists Visiting Mexico

Ateo - 2-13-2012 at 08:51 PM

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/mexico-tou...


REPORTING FROM MEXICO CITY — Mexico attracted a record number of foreign visitors last year despite a frightening drug war that is prompting travel warnings for a number of areas around the country.

Mexico’s tourism agency released new figures (link in Spanish) showing that the number of foreign travelers arriving by air in 2011 rose to 22.7 million, the most since the Bank of Mexico began keeping track in 1980. There was growth in each of the last five months of the year, officials said.

Tourism also got a boost from Mexican travelers, who registered 167 million visits to tourist spots. The total of Mexican and foreign tourists was 2% higher than for 2008, which had been the best year on record.

The number of air travelers from the United States to Mexico fell by 3% last year, but tourists from other countries — especially Brazil, Russia, Peru and China — registered sizable increases over 2010.

The enduring carnage of the drug war, with about 50,000 dead in the last five years, has generated substantial media coverage abroad.

Travel operators and Mexican resorts have sought to fill rooms by offering discounts in places such as  Acapulco, now among the deadliest spots in the country, though most of the violence occurs far from the main tourist strip. Mexico remains a relatively affordable destination and, generally speaking, the tourist centers of well-known resort areas such as Cancun and Los Cabos have not suffered drug-related slayings.

The State Department’s latest travel warning for Mexico says Americans should avoid travel in parts or all of 14 states around the country, and several others where travelers should exercise caution.

Last week’s warning is more detailed than prior announcements about potential trouble spots and the perils there. Few major tourist areas are mentioned, though travelers are urged to exercise caution in Acapulco, Ixtapa and Zihuatenejo — all in the violence-plagued state of Guerrero — and in Mazatlan, a popular beach spot in the northwestern state of Sinaloa where killings have soared since 2009.

Tourism is one of Mexico's top sources of foreign income.

Ateo - 2-13-2012 at 09:00 PM

Just posting an article that I came across.....

bajario - 2-13-2012 at 11:38 PM

I just returned from Zihuatenejo tonight. Plenty of gringos around in town.

baja1943 - 2-14-2012 at 07:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajario
I just returned from Zihuatenejo tonight. Plenty of gringos around in town.

http://www.webcamsdemexico.com/webcam-ixtapa.html

Record Number of Tourists Visiting Mexico

Oddjob - 2-14-2012 at 08:23 AM

Tell that to the businesses that cater to tourism in Baja.

Woooosh - 2-14-2012 at 10:11 AM

The tourism gains are coming from countries other than the USA, so maybe their marketing campaigns in central america are paying off.

KASHEYDOG - 2-14-2012 at 10:24 AM

Nice to hear some good positive news......:yes:...,:yes:

Also nice to hear the rest of the world doesn't have their heads up in a dark place......:tumble:..;D...:spingrin:

BajaGeoff - 2-14-2012 at 11:18 AM

We have been insanely busy so far this year....even though this is normally our slow season. 2012 is shaping up to be a good one!

JoeJustJoe - 2-14-2012 at 11:35 AM

From the article: Tourism also got a boost from Mexican travelers, who registered 167 million visits to tourist spots. The total of Mexican and foreign tourists was 2% higher than for 2008, which had been the best year on record.

The number of air travelers from the United States to Mexico fell by 3% last year, but tourists from other countries — especially Brazil, Russia, Peru and China — registered sizable increases over 2010.
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This is very good news.

I understand Mexico is very optimistic about US Tourism in 2012. Mexico is forecasting an increase of 10 percent from the U.S. Markets.

Again this is very good news, and really there are fantastic vacation deals in Mexico this years for the tourists especially from the US.
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“We are very optimistic about 2012,” said Rodolfo Lopez Negrete, chief operating officer of the Mexico Tourism Board. “We’re forecasting an increase of 10 percent from the U.S. market.”

That would represent a significant change from 2011, in which arrivals from the U.S. are estimated to have fallen 3 percent from the 11.9 million travelers who flew in from U.S. cities or arrived via U.S.-based cruise ships in 2010.

http://itineraries.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/07/10344831-m...

sancho - 2-14-2012 at 11:43 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGeoff
We have been insanely busy so far this year....even though this is normally our slow season. 2012 is shaping up to be a good one!



I think there is a destinct difference in Tourists to Mex
who will fly, not drive. The Mex Ins Brokers would
obviously have the pulse on the # of Tourists who drive,
Bajabound info looks like things have bottomed out
a while back and are on the uptick
thats nothing but good

mtgoat666 - 2-14-2012 at 11:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ateo
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/mexico-tou...


REPORTING FROM MEXICO CITY — Mexico attracted a record number of foreign visitors last year despite a frightening drug war that is prompting travel warnings for a number of areas around the country.



probably has a lot to do with the economy having stabilized and recovery on the rise. stock market has recovered and housing has stabilized, and people have had a few years to adjust -- so people are getting back to having fun.

si, se puede!

don't worry, be happy!

Bajahowodd - 2-15-2012 at 04:46 PM

If true, it seems to beg the question of just how many tourists would visit Mexico in the absence of the drug cartel violence. But, I also must chime in on the reality of hotel occupancy in such places as Cabo. It is nowhere near what it was at its peak.

In addition, over the recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of "All-Inclusive" Hotels in many of the tourist destinations.

Aside from the attraction for those who enjoy boozing 24/7 while on vacation, the all-inclusives fundamentally developed in areas outside Mexico where crime and violence was a problem. Jamaica is a prime example.