Mexico, Mexico City and Cancún Tourism Hit Record Highs as International Visitation Jumps in 2025: All You Need to Know

Published on December 13, 2025

Mexico tourism is experiencing a record year, with 79.3 million international visitors arriving between January and October 2025, a 13.6 percent increase compared to the same period of 2024, according to official data released by the Secretaría de Turismo (SECTUR) and summarised by government communications. The figure covers overnight tourists, same-day visitors from neighbouring countries and cruise passengers, confirming Mexico’s status as one of the most visited countries in the world.​

Mexico ranked as the sixth most visited country globally in 2024, behind France, Spain, the United States, Turkey and Italy, and 2025 trends indicate it is consolidating its position as a leading global tourism powerhouse ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major events.​

Strong gains in international tourists and cruise passengers

Within the 79.3 million international visitors, SECTUR data show that 38.4 million were international tourists who spent at least one night in Mexico during the first ten months of 2025, an increase of 5.8 percent year-on-year. This segment includes travellers staying in the country’s main leisure and business destinations such as Cancún, Mexico City, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta and Mérida, generating significant demand for hotels, transport and attractions.​

The cruise tourism segment is also expanding, with 8.9 million cruise passengers calling at Mexican ports between January and October, representing growth of around eleven to twelve percent compared to the same period in 2024. Major hubs such as Cozumel and Mahahual in Quintana Roo, as well as Pacific ports like Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta, have become critical gateways for introducing first-time visitors to Mexico’s coastal destinations and shore excursions.​

Record October for visitors and tourism revenue

October 2025 was the best October in Mexico’s tourism history, with 8.3 million international visitors, a 10.7 percent increase versus October 2024. Of these, around 3.74 million were international tourists, a slight increase on the same month last year, while the remainder comprised excursionists and cruise passengers, reflecting the growing importance of short-stay and cruise tourism in the visitor mix.​

International visitors spent approximately US 2.44 billion in Mexico during October alone, a rise of 9.3 percent year-on-year and an impressive 50.3 percent increase compared to October 2019, before the pandemic. Over the January–October period, total foreign exchange earnings from international visitors reached around US 28.2 billion, 6.5 percent higher than a year earlier, underscoring the sector’s central role in Mexico’s broader economic performance.​

Air arrivals up, with Italy, Argentina, South Korea and Canada leading growth

Air connectivity remains a backbone of Mexico’s tourism expansion. Government figures show that  47.98 million passengers arrived in Mexico on international flights during the first ten months of 2025, an increase of about 1.4 percent compared to the same period of 2024; this total includes both foreign visitors and Mexican nationals.​

By nationality, the strongest growth rates in air arrivals were recorded among visitors from Italy (plus 14.8 percent), Argentina (plus 14.3 percent), South Korea (plus 11.6 percent), Canada (plus 11.4 percent) and China (plus 10.6 percent), while arrivals from the United States, Mexico’s largest source market, also increased by around 0.6 percent. These trends signal a diversification of Mexico’s international tourism base, with more travelers coming from long-haul markets in Europe and Asia, alongside resilient demand from North and South America.​

Domestic air travel and total airport traffic continue to grow

On the domestic front, passenger numbers on internal flights in Mexico reached 52.43 million between January and October, marking a 3.2 percent increase year-on-year and reflecting continued strength in domestic tourism and business travel. When combined with international passengers, total airport traffic across the country climbed to 157.2 million passengers in the first ten months, an increase of 2.5 percent over the same period in 2024.​

This growth in both domestic and international air travel illustrates how Mexican tourism now rests on a broad base of internal mobility and foreign demand, giving destinations additional resilience against shocks in any single source market.​

Mexico City, Cancún and regional hubs anchor tourism flows

Passenger statistics highlight the central role of key airports in channelling tourism flows. Between January and October 2025, Mexico City International Airport (AICM) handled around 36.9 million passengers, retaining its position as the country’s busiest hub for both business and leisure travel.​

Cancún International Airport followed with 24.4 million passengers, underscoring its status as Mexico’s primary gateway for Caribbean beach tourism and a major entry point for visitors from North America and Europe heading to Cancún, Riviera Maya, Cozumel and Tulum. Other important nodes included Guadalajara (15.3 million), Monterrey (thirteen million), Tijuana (10.6 million), Los Cabos (6.2 million), Felipe Ángeles (5.8 million), Puerto Vallarta (5.6 million), Mérida (3.2 million) and Bajío (2.7 million), demonstrating how tourism-driven air traffic is now spread across multiple regions.​

Tourism growth strengthens Mexico’s global positioning

The combined rise in visitor numbers, tourism receipts and air traffic confirms that Mexico’s tourism industry has more than recovered from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and is now entering a phase of record expansion. Officials interpret the sustained momentum as a sign of  international confidence in Mexico’s stability, infrastructure and destination offering, with every percentage point of growth in visitors and foreign exchange earnings contributing directly to employment and regional development.​

With 79.3 million international visitors in ten months, strong October performance and diversified source markets, Mexico, Cancún and Mexico City tourism are poised to benefit further from upcoming global events, enhanced air connectivity and continued investment in destinations, from Pueblos Mágicos to major beach resorts, consolidating the country’s role as a leading tourism and cultural hub in the Americas.