Fonatur Commits MX$7.13 Billion to Sustainable Tourism in Nayarit

Mexico's National Fund for Tourism Promotion is initiating a MX$7.13 billion development for the Sustainable Tourism Center Compostela in Nayarit, marking a strategic pivot toward public-private, ecologically sustainable infrastructure projects. This investment anchors Nayarit's position as Mexico's primary tourism development destination, capturing 19% of the national project pipeline and stimulating private capital deployment across hospitality, transport, and construction sectors. Governed by multi-agency federal coordination and SHCP strategic oversight, the initiative reflects national policy shifts to capture expanding international visitor demand while protecting coastal ecosystems.

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Mexico's National Fund for Tourism Promotion (Fonatur) initiated development on 542.32ha for the first phase of the Sustainable Tourism Center (CTS) Compostela in the state of Nayarit. The project involves a total investment of MX$7.13 billion (US$420.63 million) and integrates two distinct Sustainable Tourism Projects (PTS): Boca de Chila and Chacala-Las Cuevas. The public-private development aims to create a new destination for domestic and international travelers while establishing a model for environmentally responsible tourism along Mexico's Pacific coast.

"A new tourism center in the region represents a strategic opportunity to trigger economic and social development, generating benefits in employment, connectivity, infrastructure, social inclusion, orderly population growth, and strengthening local productive activity, contributing to the objectives of shared prosperity," federal authorities reported in project evaluation documentation.

The development marks a structural shift in federal tourism strategy. Fonatur is transitioning away from traditional Integrally Planned Centers (CIPs) — such as Cancún, Los Cabos, and Huatulco — which prioritized high-density, large-scale resort infrastructure. Instead, the agency is adopting the Sustainable Tourism Center (CTS) framework, which focuses on sustainable regional growth, natural and biocultural preservation, and responsible tourism. The new model aims to drive economic activity without compromising fragile coastal ecosystems, preserving regional identity while ensuring long-term social and economic benefits for local communities and visitors.

Twin Public Bidding Processes

To execute the initial technical phases of CTS Compostela, Fonatur initiated public bidding processes, citing a lack of specialized internal operational staff required for preliminary engineering and planning. Two public contracts have been awarded to date to advance the project's master planning and surveying foundations.

The first contract, covering the elaboration of the conceptual master plan for CTS Compostela, was awarded on April 29 to Team 730 Taller de Estudios y Análisis Metropolitanos. The agreement totaled MX$11.2 million (US$660,599), with a scheduled completion date of July 31. 

The second contract, covering topographic, geodesic, and cartographic engineering services, was awarded to Corporativo Escuadrón Rojo DS following a winning bid of MX$8.1 million (US$477,755). Work under this contract began on June 15, 2026, and is scheduled for full completion by Dec. 30, 2026, spanning an execution period of 199 calendar days.

Under presidential directive, Fonatur is leading multi-institutional coordination with federal and state entities. Key public stakeholders include the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR) as sector head, state development bank Banobras, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT), the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), the Ministry of Agrarian, Land, and Urban Development (SEDATU), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the National Institute for Sustainable Land (INSUS), and the Nayarit state government. 

Nayarit Pivotal to Mexico’s Tourism Strategy

The initiative builds on Fonatur's historical presence in the state. In 2006, the agency launched the CIP Nayarit, which comprised two primary land polygons: Litibú, situated in the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, and Costa Capomo, located in Compostela. While private capital was previously deployed in these areas, the federal government's revised approach reorganizes land usage to balance economic growth with environmental safeguards.

According to the strategic evaluation file approved by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP), the federal government considers Nayarit a strategic territory for national economic development. This status stems from its geographical location in the Mexican Pacific, offering traditional sun-and-beach tourism, alongside natural, cultural, and eco-tourism assets distributed across its mountain, valley, and coastal zones in the central-south region.

Current market data indicates that Riviera Nayarit maintains a visitor distribution composed of 61% domestic tourists and 39% international tourists. Despite achieving record-high international visitor arrivals in recent years, long-term demographic and market projections from SHCP indicate a major structural reversal by 2053, when international travelers are expected to represent 65% of total visitors, with domestic travelers accounting for the remaining 35%.

Growing Tourism Profile

This investment reflects Nayarit's growing dominance in Mexico's tourism pipeline. According to Fonatur Director Sebastián Ramírez and Minister of Tourism Josefina Rodríguez, Nayarit accounts for 19% of Mexico's total planned tourism investment pipeline. This figure represents the largest share of any Mexican state, ahead of Quintana Roo at 17% and Jalisco at 12%. Fonatur's broader strategy, developed in partnership with financial institutions including BBVA Mexico, focuses on unlocking territorial land reserves through transparent trusts and mixed public-private vehicles.

Complementing the CTS Compostela development, federal and state authorities are executing key transport infrastructure upgrades across the state. In July 2026, announced its expectation of an additional 5 million annual tourists thanks to a MX$4.13 billion (US$243.48 million) expansion of Tepic International Airport. The airport modernization, which is set to expand flight capacity, international routes, and regional connectivity, directly supports destinations across the Riviera Nayarit corridor — including Sayulita, San Pancho, Punta Mita, and San Blas.