Mexican tourism officials and the private sector are expecting an especially strong 2022 and 2023, according to multiple attendees at the 46th edition of Tianguis Turistico Mexico, the country’s annual tourism convention.
According to figures announced during the conference, which was held at the end of May in Acapulco at the Expo Mundo Imperial convention complex, Tianguis Turistico broke records with a total of 64,950 business appointments — more than any other year in the event’s history. Attendees came from 45 countries, with 450 buyers and 1,850 exhibitors.
These impressive numbers bode well for the nation’s growing tourism market, according to Miguel Torruco Marques, secretary of tourism for Mexico, who noted that the nation expects to receive 40 million international tourists this year. That represents 2.9% more than the same period in 2019, he told attendees.
“This year, our income is going to be better than the $45.6 billion that we used to have just before the pandemic, in 2019,” he said.
A variety of news and initiatives are expected to further boost Mexico’s profile on the world tourism stage. Here are some of the highlights from the 2022 Tianguis Turistico conference.
Tourism Leads to Lesser-Known Locales
To draw tourism to lesser-known destinations, Torruco Marques plans to promote “anchor projects,” a series of tourist routes, activities and attractions in various regions around the country. Sites featured in the initiative include Parque la Huasteca in Nuevo Leon; high-wire walking at Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas; a pulque hacienda route in Hidalgo and Mexico State; a “sea to sea” route in Baja California Sur; and a vineyard marathon in Baja California.
A New Event Featuring Pueblos Magicos
A new conference aims to boost interest in Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos (“magical towns”), a group of 132 towns and cities recognized for their cultural, historical, architectural and culinary importance. The inaugural Primer Tianguis Internacional de los Pueblos Magicos took place in Barcelona in April, with 16 countries and 70 tour operators from Asia and Europe in attendance, as well as representatives from Pueblos Magicos around Mexico. Next year’s conference is slated to take place in Los Angeles.
Mexican States Unite in Tourism Promotions
Five states that border the Sea of Cortez — Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora, Baja California Sur and Baja California — are banding together to launch a new tourism promotion program dubbed “Mar de Cortes” that’s designed to encourage visitation across the region.
Tepic International Airport’s Expansion Will Include New Service From the U.S.
The state of Nayarit is expecting a bump in arrivals once Tepic International Airport finishes major expansions in late 2023. The facility is preparing to receive new flights from the U.S., which will provide easier access to new cruises and excursions that launch from San Blas, a coastal municipality in Nayarit, to the Marias Islands.
The Mexican Caribbean Focuses on Sustainable Tourism
The Mexican Caribbean, which includes Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and other destinations in the state of Quintana Roo, continues to move forward with its 2030 Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism. The destination reports an impressive 78.5% average occupancy, according to the latest official figures.
Guanajuato’s Collaboration With Local Operators
The state of Guanajuato is signing promotional agreements with operators including Bestours, Despegar, Capital Host and Viva Aerobus, according to Juan Jose Alvarez Brunel, secretary of tourism for the state. The destination is also planning for the 50th anniversary of Festival Internacional Cervantino, an annual literary celebration.
Loreto Promotes Small Hotel Buyouts in Baja California Sur
In the town of Loreto in Baja California Sur, tourism officials have extended a popular pandemic-era program that encourages visitors to reserve full buyouts of the destination’s smaller properties. Multiple small hotels, ranging in size from four to 15 rooms, participate in the program, which makes it easy for family and friend groups to create a more private vacation setting.
Grupo Xcaret Enhances Offerings
Grupo Xcaret continues to expand its hospitality and entertainment offerings in the Yucatan peninsula. The company has reopened Xavage, a waterpark with the region’s only whitewater rapids, and debuted an array of new developments, including La Casa de la Playa, an adults-only luxury beach hotel, and Xcaret Xailing, a new ferry and catamaran service that provides excursions to Isla Mujeres from the Cancun hotel zone.
Still to come are catamarans stationed at the Xcaret hotel properties; the debut of Xibalba, a new ecopark; and a major expansion at Hotel Xcaret Mexico that will add 900 new rooms and 10 new restaurants by 2024.
Newbuild Hotels on the Horizon
A variety of new hotels are set to debut around Mexico. Among the newest wellness-themed boutique properties are Amatte Wellnest Community, a 29-room hotel in San Miguel de Allende, and Xixim Mundo Imperial, a 32-room property developed by Mundo Imperial Entertainment & Hospitality in the Yucatan’s Celestun biosphere reserve.
Grupo Posadas, meanwhile, is continuing its expansion in the Mexican Caribbean with the opening of the 452-room Live Aqua Beach Resort and 600-room Grand Fiesta Americana in Riviera Cancun in summer 2023.
New properties from AMR Collection include Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen, which opened in April; Dreams Cozumel Cape Resort & Spa, which will open in September; Secrets Impression Moxche, which will open in October in Playa del Carmen; and Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlan, a golf and spa resort slated to open by next year.
The next edition of Tianguis Turistico will be held in Mexico City from April 30 to May 3, 2023.
