Mexico Joins Brazil and Other Countries in Skyrocketing US Tourism With a Record Surge in Tourist Arrivals to Texas in 2026

Texas is gaining fresh tourism momentum from Latin America in 2026 as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia all send more visitors to the state. Based on the supplied year-to-date data through July 2026, the four countries generated 370,279 visitors, up from 332,065 during January–July 2025. That means Texas welcomed 38,214 additional visitors from these four markets, an increase of about 11.5%. The growth is particularly significant because it is not coming from one country alone. Mexico is delivering enormous volume, Argentina is producing the fastest percentage growth, and Brazil and Colombia are adding steady South American demand. Together, the numbers show Texas strengthening its position as an important US destination for Latin American travellers.

Mexico Powers Texas Tourism Past 300,000 Visitors

Mexico remains the giant behind Texas international tourism growth. Mexican arrivals reached 300,900 between January and July 2026, compared with 272,598 during the same seven months of 2025. That means Texas gained 28,302 Mexican visitors in a single year, representing growth of 10.4%. The scale makes this particularly important. Mexico alone supplied more than 81% of the combined visitors from the four countries analysed and generated roughly 74% of their total net increase. Texas has a natural advantage in this market because the two share a border alongside extensive family, cultural, commercial and transport connections. Mexican visitors can reach Texas by road and air, while destinations such as Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin offer shopping, food, entertainment, sport and cultural experiences. The 2026 figures show that Mexico is not simply remaining Texas’s dominant Latin American tourism market; it is continuing to expand from an already very large base.

Brazil Adds Fresh Momentum to Texas International Tourism

Brazil is bringing another layer of growth to Texas tourism. Visitor numbers increased from 29,926 during January–July 2025 to 31,715 during January–July 2026, producing an additional 1,789 visitors and 6.0% year-on-year growth. Brazil’s importance is different from Mexico’s. It is a long-haul South American market, so continued growth helps Texas build a more geographically diverse international visitor economy. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth provide the state with powerful international aviation gateways, while Texas itself offers Brazilian travellers a broad tourism mix extending from metropolitan shopping and dining to sport, live entertainment, road trips and distinctive Texan culture. The 6% increase may look modest beside Argentina’s extraordinary rise, but consistent growth from an established overseas market is valuable. It suggests Texas is maintaining its appeal beyond neighbouring Mexico and gaining visitors from deeper inside South America.

Argentina Becomes the Breakout Tourism Story With a 73 Percent Surge

Argentina delivers the most eye-catching number in the entire dataset. Argentine visitor arrivals to Texas surged from 9,239 during January–July 2025 to 16,003 in the first seven months of 2026, adding 6,764 visitors and producing extraordinary 73.2% year-on-year growth. The percentage needs context because Argentina is growing from a much smaller base than Mexico or Brazil, but the numerical gain remains substantial. Argentina actually added more visitors than Brazil and Colombia combined during the period. That makes it an emerging market worth watching closely. Stronger Argentine demand also gives Texas something strategically valuable: diversification. Instead of depending almost entirely on its huge Mexican market, Texas is attracting faster growth from farther south in Latin America. If the trend continues, Argentina could become a much more important contributor to international visitor spending across Texas cities, hotels, restaurants, attractions and retail businesses.

Colombia Keeps Texas Tourism Moving Higher With Steady Growth

Colombia is also strengthening the Latin American tourism pipeline into Texas. The state received 21,661 Colombian visitors between January and July 2026, compared with 20,302 during the same period of 2025. That represents 1,359 additional visitors and growth of 6.7%. Colombia’s increase is not as dramatic as Argentina’s, but that does not make it insignificant. Stable growth from an already established market can provide Texas with dependable international demand throughout the year. Colombian travellers arriving through major gateways such as Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth can also travel onwards to other parts of the state, spreading tourism spending beyond the airport cities. The increase adds another positive result to the wider pattern: every Latin American country shown in the supplied dataset generated more Texas visitors through July 2026 than it did during the corresponding period last year.

Latin America Delivers More Than 38,000 Additional Visitors to Texas

The strongest tourism story appears when the four markets are viewed together. Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Colombia generated 370,279 Texas visitors during January–July 2026, compared with 332,065 a year earlier. The combined increase of 38,214 visitors represents growth of approximately 11.5%. Mexico remains the engine, accounting for 28,302 of those additional visitors, while Argentina supplies the fastest acceleration. Brazil and Colombia provide another 3,148 additional visitors between them. The result gives Texas a valuable combination of volume and diversification. Mexico provides the huge neighbouring market, while growing South American demand reduces the extent to which the state’s international tourism story depends on a single country.

South American Tourism Is Becoming a Bigger Part of the Texas Story

Mexico naturally dominates the numbers, but the South American figures reveal another important trend. Brazil, Argentina and Colombia collectively generated 69,379 visitors through July 2026, up from 59,467 during the corresponding period of 2025. That represents an increase of 9,912 visitors, or approximately 16.7%. In other words, the three South American markets analysed are growing faster collectively than Mexico, although from a much smaller base. Argentina is responsible for much of that acceleration, but Brazil and Colombia are also moving upwards. This broadening of demand could become increasingly valuable for Texas because different source markets respond differently to economic conditions, currencies, air capacity and seasonal travel patterns. A wider portfolio of international markets can make the state’s tourism economy more resilient.

Mexico joins Brazil and other countries in skyrocketing US tourism, with a record surge in tourist arrivals to Texas in 2026 driven by strong growth from Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Colombia, which together delivered more than 370,000 visitors through July.

Texas Enters the Second Half of 2026 With Strong International Momentum

The January–July numbers give Texas a strong Latin American tourism story heading deeper into 2026. Mexico has crossed 300,000 visitors in the supplied dataset while still growing at a double-digit rate. Brazil has climbed above 31,000. Colombia has moved beyond 21,000. Argentina has surged past 16,000 after recording the fastest growth of the four markets. This means Texas is benefiting simultaneously from its traditional strength in Mexico and expanding demand from South America. International visitors can generate spending across hotels, restaurants, attractions, retail, entertainment and transportation, meaning the impact extends far beyond arrival statistics. The biggest question now is whether this momentum continues through the remaining months of 2026. If it does, Latin America could play an even larger role in supporting Texas tourism and strengthening the state’s position in the wider US international visitor market.

Mexico joins Brazil and other countries in skyrocketing US tourism, with a record surge in tourist arrivals to Texas in 2026 as Latin American visitor numbers rise sharply year on year.

In conclusion, Mexico joins Brazil and other countries in skyrocketing US tourism, with a strong surge in tourist arrivals to Texas in 2026 as Latin American demand continues to expand. Mexico provides the largest visitor volume, while Argentina records the fastest growth and Brazil and Colombia add steady momentum. Together, these markets delivered more than 370,000 visitors through July, strengthening Texas tourism through higher international demand. The rise reflects Texas’s strong air links, border connectivity, major cities, shopping, entertainment and cultural appeal, positioning Latin America as an increasingly important source of tourism growth for the state.