Cozumel, Mexico. Courtesy: Travel Pulse
Mexico welcomed over 45 million international tourists in 2024, marking the highest number since 2019. The latest data from the country’s statistics agency shows a 7.4% increase in visitors compared to 2023 when nearly 42 million tourists arrived.
Tourism revenue also saw a boost, rising by 6% compared to the previous year. Travel-related businesses earned around $30.25 billion in 2024. However, while more visitors arrived, their average spending dropped slightly by 1.4%.
Air travel remained the most popular way to enter Mexico, with a small increase in the number of tourists arriving by plane. Cruise tourism, on the other hand, experienced significant growth. More than 10.15 million visitors arrived by ship, representing a rise of over 10% from 2023. The cruise industry alone brought in approximately $849 million.
However, starting in 2025, cruise passengers visiting Mexican ports will need to pay an immigration fee of $42. Officials say this fee will help improve port services and tourism infrastructure.
Mexico ended 2024 on a strong note, with nearly 4.8 million international visitors arriving in December alone. Among them, around 79.8% traveled by commercial airline, while approximately 1.6 million entered the country by car or on foot.
