Amid geopolitical tensions and the arrival of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States, international tourism to Mexico has continued to rise. In January, there was an increase of 8.9% in the arrival of foreign travelers compared to the same month of the previous year. The National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) reported that around 3.9 million international tourists, including Americans, visited Mexico in January of this year, in contrast to the 3.63 million of the previous year.
The entry of international tourists in January exceeded the expenditure made, which is beginning to stabilize the growth of foreign currency. During that month, foreign currency income from international tourism reached $3.073 billion, an increase of 4.6% compared to January of the previous year. The economic spill generated by international tourism has experienced an increase of nearly 6% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Regarding tourist spending in Mexico, total spending increased by 4.6% year-on-year in January 2025, reaching $2.940 billion. However, the average expenditure per tourist decreased by 3.7% to $778.6 compared to the same month of the previous year. This data reflects the upward trend of tourism in Mexico after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During 2024, Mexico received a total of 45 million 38 thousand 754 international tourists, marking a growth of 7.4% compared to the previous year and setting a new record for the Mexican tourism industry. The country's tourism economy has shown significant growth, being classified as the sixth most visited country in the world in 2022 and 2023, with the current president, Claudia Sheinbaum, aiming to place Mexico in the global top 5.
Data shows that the foreign currency generated by international visitors in 2024 amounted to $30,246.2 million, representing an increase of 6% compared to the previous year. Mexico's tourism Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 0.9% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024, primarily driven by a 5.3% increase in consumption by foreign travelers.
