Mexico Sees 11.5% Jump in International Visitors in June

Mexico welcomed more than 8 million international visitors in June, an 11.5% increase from the same month in 2024, according to data from INEGI. The country saw arrivals climb from 7.19 million in June last year to just over 8 million this year. The sharpest increase came from border tourism, which surged 26% to 1.78 million visitors compared to 1.42 million in June 2024. In contrast, air arrivals fell 2.8% year-over-year to 1.84 million passengers.

Total spending by international tourists in June rose 5.7% to US$2.75 billion, up from US$2.6 billion a year earlier. However, average spending per visitor fell 5.2% to US$343, compared with US$362 in June 2024. The figures reflect a continuing upward trend in Mexico’s tourism sector. The country received 45.03 million international visitors in 2024, up 7.4% from 2023, with foreign exchange earnings from tourism totaling $30.25 billion, nearly 6% higher than the previous year.

Based on data from the U.N. World Tourism Organization, Mexico is the sixth most visited country in the world and President Claudia Sheinbaum has set a goal for Mexico to break into the Top 5 destinations worldwide.

Carnival Cruise Line to Return to Acapulco 

In related news, Carnival Cruise Line will return to Acapulco in spring 2027 after a 15-year hiatus, marking what Mexican officials called a milestone in the Pacific port’s recovery and a boost to the country’s cruise tourism market. Minister of Tourism Josefina Rodríguez said the Carnival Legend will make a special stop in Acapulco as part of a newly announced itinerary, describing the move as a sign of renewed confidence in the destination.

“The arrival of Carnival to Acapulco, after more than a decade, is a clear signal of the port’s recovery and the strengthening of tourism in Mexico,” Rodríguez said. “This not only benefits Acapulco, but also energizes the entire tourism value chain, from transport providers and guides to restaurants and local businesses.”

Regarding Carnival Cruise Line’s return to Acapulco and how it reflects Guerrero´s government efforts to revitalize the port city’s tourism sector and attract international visitors, Jaime Fernández, Director General of Tourism and Promotion at Guerrerós Ministry of Tourism said to MBN that the work carried out by the three levels of government to secure Carnival’s return is clear evidence of a joint effort that also involved the private sector. Additionally, public and private investments made it possible for Acapulco’s tourism infrastructure to recover and be ready to receive cruise passengers less than two years after Hurricane Otis, and that as a result of these efforts, after 15 years, the ban preventing ships from Carnival Corp. subsidiaries from docking in Acapulco was lifted.

“Moreover, as a Platinum member of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), the Port of Acapulco arranged an inspection visit in 2023 by Carnival Corp.’s security and government relations teams. During this visit, officials presented the strategies implemented to ensure the safety of cruise passengers and it was agreed to send destination, safety, arrival, and incident reports, which helped change the negative perception regarding safety in Acapulco’s tourist zone,” said Fernández. 

Collaboration among federal, state, and local authorities to help restore Acapulco’s position as a key cruise destination on Mexico’s Pacific coast has been fundamental. 

“Working with the three levels of government has contributed by strengthening security in the city’s tourist areas. Combined with projected investments under the Acapulco se transforma contigo program, the city is showcasing a renewed image, with upgraded tourism infrastructure, public services supported by FONATUR, and national and international promotion strategies that are improving land, air, and maritime connectivity,” said Fernàndez to MBN. 

In addition, these efforts are positioning the port of Acapulco as a leading cruise tourism destination, supported by the diversity of Pacific ports and its strategic geographic location, which provides access to a market of more than 30 million people in central Mexico, highlighted Fernández. 

Rodríguez highlighted the federal government’s efforts to promote key destinations and improve infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to lure back major cruise lines. Guerrero Minister of Tourism Simón Quiñones Orozco said coordination with the port authority (ASIPONA) was key to securing Carnival’s return as well as a Holland America Line ship scheduled to arrive in 2026.

Acapulco Mayor Abelina López Rodríguez said the Carnival Legend will visit the port during a 16-day voyage departing Tampa, Florida, and stopping in Cartagena, Santa Marta, Cabo San Lucas, and making a full transit of the Panama Canal before continuing to Seattle for the start of its Alaska season.

The announcement comes months after President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled a MX3 billion (US$154 million) investment plan to revitalize Acapulco’s tourism sector and improve living conditions for residents under the Acapulco Se Transforma Contigo (Acapulco Transforms With You) program.