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35 million tourists to Mexico in 2016

BajaBlanca - 3-31-2017 at 08:15 AM

http://baja.com/blog/mexico-welcomed-record-breaking-35-mill...

BajaBlanca - 3-31-2017 at 08:20 AM

Mexico Welcomed Record-Breaking 35 Million International Tourists In 2016

March 1, 2017 by wds_admin Leave a Comment


World-famous Mexican hospitality and diverse tourism experiences fuel industry growth

The Mexico Tourism Board announced today a record-breaking 35 million international visitors traveled to Mexico in 2016, representing a growth of 9 percent compared to 2015. This growth is more than twice the global industry average, most recently reported at 3.9 percent by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in January 2017. Additionally, tourism spending by international visitors grew even faster, at 10.4 percent, highlighting the strength of Mexico’s appeal to luxury travelers, interest in multi-destination visits, and demand for Mexico’s gastronomy, artisanal goods and shopping offering.

“Mexico’s sustained, fast growth is a testament to the incredible quality and diversity in our tourism offering and the hard work for the entire industry, both internationally and domestically. More than 9 million Mexicans working in the tourism and hospitality industry have made it their mission to ensure visitors have incredible experiences,” remarked Lourdes Berho, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. “Plans are already underway to ensure 2017 builds upon these achievements and that Mexico continues to welcome all visitors and give them reasons to come back again and again.”




True to the famous Mexican adage, ‘mi casa es tu casa’ (my home is your home), travelers from all over the world have recognized Mexico as being one of the most welcoming and friendliest places to visit in 2016. In fact, the Mexico Tourism Board’s internal consumer tracking studies showed more than 94 percent of visitors reported an experience that “exceeded their expectations” and 86 percent say they would “like to come back again” in the next six months– some of the highest scores in the industry. Examples include:
◾Mexico was awarded #1 country in the world for Family Travel and Puerto Vallarta as #2 destination in the world for LGBTQ travel by the global Travvy Awards
◾For the third year in a row, Mexico was ranked as the friendliest and most welcoming country in the world by the John Mason survey of expatriates in 191 countries
◾“Close to China” (Cerca de China) is a special program co-created by both China and Mexico which shares and recognizes best practices in the services offered to Chinese travelers by hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and guides
◾“Halal Mexico” is a special program to help prepare airlines, hotels, restaurants and the wider Mexico tourism industry to cater to travelers from around the world that maintain a halal diet

Mexico’s Visitors by Air and Expanded Connectivity Continues to Grow

Tourists arriving by air grew at an even faster rate of 10.7 percent, propelled by continued expansion in connectivity. This includes service from new international markets to multiple Mexico destinations, expanded frequency on existing routes, and upgraded aircrafts featuring additional seats along with improved passenger experiences.

Mexico’s Top Destinations Featured and Recognized Around the World

From industry awards to consumer media, surveys and high profile brands, Mexico has once again proven itself once of the world’s most recognized destinations in 2016. Examples include:
◾The New York Times named Tijuana (#8) and Puerto Escondido (#32) in their 52 Places to Go in 2017. Mexico City was featured as the #1 place to visit in their 2016 list.
◾Travel & Leisure’s “World’s Best Awards” reader survey named five Mexican cities in its Top 10 Best Cities in Latin America rankings, including San Miguel de Allende (#1), Oaxaca (#3), Mexico City (#4), Merida (#5), Guadalajara (#8)
◾Mexico and its local partners and destinations across the country, won a collective 35 International Travvy Awards in early 2017 including: Mexico as Best Family Travel Destination in the world; Riviera Maya region as the Best Honeymoon Destination in Latin America, and Puerto Vallarta as Best LGBTQ destination globally. In Mexico, Los Cabos received top recognition for its culinary and luxury offerings.
◾The Rough Guides named Mexico City as the #2 city to visit
◾National Geographic named Baja California as one of its top places you need to visit in 2017
◾Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2017 selected multiple locations in the Riviera Maya and Yucatan region including Tulum for one of its largest features in 2017

The Mexico Tourism Board’s recently announced 2017 tourism development strategy included a focus on developing expanded products and personalized marketing campaigns focusing on areas such as luxury, weddings and romance, diving, biodiversity and nature, culture, gastronomy, high-profile events, sports and adventure, as well as programs for audience segments such as millennials, LGBTQ and retirees.

In each of these areas, partnerships with key destinations as well as global travel operators will bring an ever-expanded portfolio of options to travelers of all types. These industry partnerships are critical to Mexico’s goal to appeal to a broader audience in new markets, globally. This will help in achieving the new ambitious goal of reaching 50 million international visitors by 2021.

For more information about Mexico, please visit www.visitmexico.com.



Baja.com is a comprehensive online source of first-hand travel information for the Baja California Peninsula, supported by a full-service tour operator staffed by Baja locals (our “Baja Travel Savants”). We offer Baja travelers expert advice about local restaurants, hotels and vacation rentals, as well as guides, maps and articles about events, sports and activities. We provide bilingual customer support, information and sales seven days a week, 365 days a year. For more information, call toll-free (US/CAN) at 855-BAJA-411 or email us at info@baja.com.

Statistics

bajaguy - 3-31-2017 at 08:22 AM

And how do they count the people who visit Mexico without stopping to get an FMM???

BajaBlanca - 3-31-2017 at 08:29 AM

Good point.

Master Jeff - 4-9-2017 at 12:02 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
And how do they count the people who visit Mexico without stopping to get an FMM???

Asking me the same. How?:D

KurtG - 4-9-2017 at 08:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Master Jeff  
Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
And how do they count the people who visit Mexico without stopping to get an FMM???

Asking me the same. How?:D


I suspect it is a very small percentage since the bulk of tourists fly into Mexico and thus have proper permits. I have no stats to back that up but for mainland Mexico especially think that's the case.

bajaguy - 4-9-2017 at 08:25 AM

Do "special events" people (off road racers, RV and motorcycle caravans) get FMM's???

I know one group (about 60 +/-) of RV caravan people who travel to Puerto Penasco every year and don't think they need FMM's because Puerto Penasco is in "the free zone"

David K - 4-9-2017 at 08:37 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
Do "special events" people (off road racers, RV and motorcycle caravans) get FMM's???

I know one group (about 60 +/-) of RV caravan people who travel to Puerto Penasco every year and don't think they need FMM's because Puerto Penasco is in "the free zone"


Unless Sonora INM officers play by different rules, the 'Free Zone' is for the car permit requirement for Mainland Mexico (to Guaymas). The 'Border Zone' (where no FMM was needed if your stay was 72 hours or less) to Maneadero, San Felipe, Puerto Peñasco, etc. was eliminated a couple years ago. Now, just stepping a foot into Mexico theoretically requires a tourist card. At least for pedestrians as they can't stop every U.S. car for that formality... so far!

AKgringo - 4-9-2017 at 08:44 AM

Do the 'coyotes' report the emigrants they escort through Mexico to our borders?

bajaguy - 4-9-2017 at 09:00 AM

David, it is not theoretical, it is the law. And it doesn't make any difference if they can't stop every car. The law says you need an FMM.

When people travel to another country, it is up to the traveler to know and comply with the law. The government doesn't have to spoon feed people
Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
Do "special events" people (off road racers, RV and motorcycle caravans) get FMM's???

I know one group (about 60 +/-) of RV caravan people who travel to Puerto Penasco every year and don't think they need FMM's because Puerto Penasco is in "the free zone"


Unless Sonora INM officers play by different rules, the 'Free Zone' is for the car permit requirement for Mainland Mexico (to Guaymas). The 'Border Zone' (where no FMM was needed if your stay was 72 hours or less) to Maneadero, San Felipe, Puerto Peñasco, etc. was eliminated a couple years ago. Now, just stepping a foot into Mexico theoretically requires a tourist card. At least for pedestrians as they can't stop every U.S. car for that formality... so far!

TMW - 4-9-2017 at 10:10 AM

Maybe if they could some how count the non-FMM visitors they would already have reached 50 million. Even if you get an FMM you can come and go multi times and no agency, government or otherwise will know.

I think it is impossible to count how many visitors visit almost anywhere. For example how does California know how many people visit from other states? Unless you register at a campground or hotel etc they would not know. Someone flies to Las Vegas rents a car and drives to Death Valley, has lunch and sees a few sites then leaves.

willardguy - 4-9-2017 at 10:22 AM

okay,okay...will you fellows buy 34 million tourists? :rolleyes:

FMM

yumawill - 4-9-2017 at 11:08 AM

It's been my experience that most Mexican Immigration Agents are not stupid. So that being said it is just a matter of time until the Puerto Penasco and Rosarita Beach crowd become a "Revenue Stream" for the peeed off Mexican Government Employee who's brother-in-law just got deported. Just a casual thought.

JoeJustJoe - 4-9-2017 at 11:20 AM

It's so funny to see a few "Baja Nomad" members try to down play the amount of foreign visitors/tourists to Mexico, especially the border region, and they do it without any evidence or links as usual.

Even Trump, said there were 1 million legal borders crossings each and every day! And "Politifact" has fact checked Trump's statement, and pretty much gave Trump, a mostly true statement, which is surprising since Trump, makes up things out of thin air all the time.

According to sources in the article, which quoted Mexican President Nieto, he said 400,000 vehicles cross every day. Just put a couple of people in the vehicles, and count the pedestrian traffic, and it's easy to come up with one million people crossing the border.

I don't know how Mexico keeping track of all the crossing, but the US keeps tracks of all crossing into the US, and it stands to reason, most of those crossing back into the US were visiting Mexico, and therefore, Mexico could get a very good estimate..

I know it's hard for some Americans, to comprehend that millions and millions of foreign tourists are visiting Mexico, but those numbers come out every year, and tourism is definitely on an increase with a recovering economy the last few years, and a great exchange rate for American tourists.

It's also so funny to me to see a negative article about Mexico, for example something like a Mexico cartel killing, especially if a foreign tourists gets caught up in the cross fire, you will hear things like, " Oh this is going to be the final nail in the coffin of Mexico tourism now!"

My response is to say, " Oh shut up, and quit talking nonsense.

__________________________________________________

Here are some highlights from the article:

Trump says 1 million legal crossings along U.S.-Mexico border

"The United States and Mexico share a 2,000-mile border, a half a trillion dollars in annual trade and 1 million legal border crossings each and every day," Trump said during his visit to Mexico Aug. 31. "We are united by our support for democracy, a great love for our people and the contributions of millions of Mexican Americans to the United States."

"Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto during that same press conference also cited legal crossings, saying, "We share the most travelled border through which every day, legally, more than a million people cross it and over 400,000 vehicles."



[Edited on 4-9-2017 by JoeJustJoe]

amigobaja - 4-9-2017 at 11:28 AM

It seemed like Mulege and the playas had at least a million gringoes this winter. Getting crowded.

David K - 4-9-2017 at 12:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
David, it is not theoretical, it is the law. And it doesn't make any difference if they can't stop every car. The law says you need an FMM.

When people travel to another country, it is up to the traveler to know and comply with the law. The government doesn't have to spoon feed people


Quote: Originally posted by David K  
Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy  
Do "special events" people (off road racers, RV and motorcycle caravans) get FMM's???

I know one group (about 60 +/-) of RV caravan people who travel to Puerto Penasco every year and don't think they need FMM's because Puerto Penasco is in "the free zone"


Unless Sonora INM officers play by different rules, the 'Free Zone' is for the car permit requirement for Mainland Mexico (to Guaymas). The 'Border Zone' (where no FMM was needed if your stay was 72 hours or less) to Maneadero, San Felipe, Puerto Peñasco, etc. was eliminated a couple years ago. Now, just stepping a foot into Mexico theoretically requires a tourist card. At least for pedestrians as they can't stop every U.S. car for that formality... so far!


Yes, I know and agree, and I have an FMM. Did I not word my reply well? Have a great day!

cliffh - 4-10-2017 at 11:19 AM

???? Is your MX insurance still good if you are here illegally???

bajaguy - 4-10-2017 at 11:24 AM



No matter what anybody says, I wouldn't chance it
Quote: Originally posted by cliffh  
???? Is your MX insurance still good if you are here illegally???

JoeJustJoe - 4-10-2017 at 12:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by cliffh  
???? Is your MX insurance still good if you are here illegally???


Why wouldn't the MX insurance still be good if you are here illegally?

It's a contract between you and the insurance company that's protecting you if you get in an accident in Mexico.

I'm also not aware of insurance companies checking immigration paper work from either side of the border.

But if you're concerned be sure to read about the exclusions in your insurance contact paperwork.

BajaTed - 4-10-2017 at 03:32 PM

It really doesn't matter, you are GUILTY until proven innocent in Mexico.
The best insurance in the world or an FMN can't transcend the stuff no one wants to talk about on this forum.
Just the grace of god separates you from disaster on a daily basis in Mexico, its called living on the edge when there is absolutely NO legal recourse you can absolutely depend on.
Lease your property, tattoo your blood type on your arm, designate your organs for donation and carry a BIG life insurance policy, then let that beneficiary treat you like a king:bounce: