The Secretary of Tourism of Mexico, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, reported that in 2024 the foreign exchange income by international visitors was 32,956.3 million dollars, 7.4% more compared to 2023 and 34.1% more than in 2019.
According to the results of the International Traveler Surveys published by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), during 2024, 45 million tourists
Internationals entered the country, 7.4 percent more than what was captured in 2023. Of this total, 23.2 million international tourists arrived by air, which means an increase of 1.5 percent compared to 2023 and 18 percent compared to 2019.
The head of the Secretariat of Tourism (Sectur) added that the average expenditure of international tourists by air, in 2024, recorded 1,166.6 dollars, an increase of 3.6 percent compared to 2023 and 16.5 percent to the average expenditure recorded in the same period of 2019.
He also pointed out that during January-December 2024, 10 million 152 thousand cruise passengers arrived at the different ports of Mexico, with a foreign exchange income of 849 million dollars; 14.4 percent more compared to 2023 and 35.6 percent more than the amount captured in 2019.
Chichen Itza in 2024
In this context, it should be remembered that the archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá, recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, closed 2024 as the most visited archaeological site in Mexico. With more than 2.2 million tourists, this ancient Mayan city was consolidated as the main cultural destination in the country, attracting both nationals and foreigners.
In 1988, UNESCO declared Chichen Itza a World Heritage Site. And in 2007, it was recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of the Modern World, increasing its global relevance.
According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), Chichen Itzá captured this year 23% of the total visitors to the 176 archaeological sites opened in Mexico. Its cultural and historical attraction has made it the busiest place in the country, surpassing Teotihuacán and Tulum.
To finish her report, the Secretary of Tourism of Mexico said that with the national promotion, plus the participation of Mexico in international fairs, the celebration of the FIFA World Cup 2026, and the appointment of Mexico as a partner country in the International Tourism Fair of Madrid in its next edition, in the coming years, the country will have great opportunities to show the world its vast cultural, natural, gastronomic and tourist wealth.