Nayarit Targets 5 Million Tourists With Tepic Airport Expansion

Backed by a MX$4.13 billion modernization, Tepic Airport is increasing passenger capacity and adding routes to strengthen tourism across Riviera Nayarit.

Nayarit expects the expansion of the Tepic–Riviera Nayarit International Airport to help the state attract up to 5 million tourists, as authorities seek to strengthen domestic and international air connectivity and position the destination as a major gateway to Mexico’s Pacific coast.

Construction of the airport’s new passenger terminal is about 80% complete, according to Juan Enrique Suárez, Nayarit’s minister of tourism. The project is expected to increase the state’s ability to receive travelers directly, reducing its dependence on the Puerto Vallarta International Airport as the main access point for destinations along Riviera Nayarit.

The tourism target is separate from the airport’s installed capacity. Federal authorities estimate that the expanded airport will eventually be able to process approximately 4 million passengers annually. The 5 million figure refers to Nayarit’s broader projection for tourist arrivals, which could include visitors entering the state through other airports and by land.

Air Traffic Rises as International Routes Expand

The airport’s growing route network is already translating into higher operations and passenger volumes. As of April 2026, the airport operated six strategic routes, including domestic services to Mexico City, the Felipe Ángeles International Airport and Tijuana.

International flights connected Tepic with Calgary, Houston and Los Angeles, according to the Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR). State authorities are also seeking additional routes to Latin American markets to diversify Nayarit’s sources of international visitors.

Between January and April 2026, the airport handled 2,395 flights, representing a 21.3% increase compared with the same period of 2025. Passenger traffic reached 91,639 travelers, nearly 60% more than a year earlier. 

The increased connectivity is expected to benefit Tepic, Nuevo Nayarit and the wider Riviera Nayarit area, including established tourism destinations such as Sayulita, San Pancho, Punta Mita and San Blas.

Josefina Rodríguez, Minister, SECTUR says the state combines natural attractions, culture, tourism infrastructure and community hospitality, giving it a strategic position within Mexico’s Pacific tourism market. Federal officials have described the airport as complementary to other regional terminals rather than as a direct competitor.

The expanded facility could help distribute passenger demand more evenly across the region while shortening travel times for visitors whose final destinations are located north of Puerto Vallarta.

More Than MX$4 Billion Invested in Modernization

The airport modernization represents an estimated investment of MX$4.13 billion, according to the federal government’s Proyectos México. The project includes the expansion and modernization of the existing airport, a new passenger terminal and supporting operational infrastructure.

The wider modernization program has included improvements to the runway, taxiways and commercial platform, as well as the construction of a new control tower, passenger waiting areas and terminal facilities.

Federal authorities previously estimated that the airport would handle about 500,000 passengers during its first year under the expanded operating model, while the infrastructure was designed to support long-term growth of up to 4 million passengers annually. (Gobierno de México)

The airport project is part of a broader infrastructure strategy intended to improve access to Nayarit’s coastal tourism corridor. This includes the Tepic-Compostela highway, which will connect central Nayarit with Compostela and Bahía de Banderas while improving access between the airports of Tepic and Puerto Vallarta.

The 26km highway is expected to reduce travel times between Tepic and Compostela from about 50 minutes to 20 minutes. It will also connect the Tepic and Puerto Vallarta airports in approximately one hour and 15 minutes, strengthening regional mobility for residents, tourists and tourism service providers.

Nayarit has also promoted ground transportation services connecting the airport with the state’s principal destinations. These investments are intended to ensure that stronger air connectivity is supported by efficient road and passenger transportation infrastructure.