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Mexico’s Minister of Tourism, Miguel Toroco Marquez, recently announced that his country welcomes Over 36 million international visitors between January and July this year. As destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum continue to break visitor arrival records, that number will only increase. Mexico’s most popular beach destinations have seen an explosion in tourism this year As people flock to the area for a much-needed vacation two years into the pandemic. While visitor numbers overall are still lower than in 2019, the number of visitors to popular beach destinations like the ones below has broken record after record this year.
Cancun
Cancun is America’s favorite pick for this fall. It’s no secret that it holds a special place in the hearts of American travelers. In 2019, Americans accounted for more than 50% of all international air arrivals to Cancun International Airport. This year it is on the way to increase significantly. Between January and June of this year, Americans accounted for 59.8% of all international arrivals at Cancun International Airport. About 3.4 million Americans visited Cancun by air this year. Coming up, the number of arrivals is likely to jump during the peak season this winter.
Cancun is aware of its popularity, and the growing popularity of destinations like Playa del Carmen and Tulum. In response, Cancun International Airport has added more than 9 million airline seats as it prepares for a record winter. Last August, Cancun set a record number of passenger arrivals at its airport.
In the long term, Mexico plans to complete the new Maya train by December 2023. The train will connect to 18 different stations in 5 different Mexican states throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. The project will help meet the demand for tourists in the region. Plus, it’s likely to make Cancun more famous than ever.
Playa del Carmen
About 45 minutes southwest of Cancun International Airport, Playa del Carmen has also grown in popularity. In fact, Playa del Carmen is so much booked this summer, only 10% of hotel rooms were available in mid-July. With more visitors planning fall and winter, occupancy rates are likely to remain high. Playa del Carmen and Tulum have shared some glory with their neighboring beach destination, and they recently broke all access records. Between June and August this year, the two cities received 822,000 visitors, breaking the 2019 record of 625,000.
Travel Off Path recently revealed the top 10 things travelers should know before visiting Playa del Carmen. In particular, for those interested in a long-term visit, Monthly vacation rentals can be found as low as $400 per month. Visitors coming to Mexico are usually granted a visa that allows them to stay for up to 180 days, making long-term stays easier than ever.
Tulum
Tulum is about an hour and a half from Cancun International Airport and less than an hour from Playa del Carmen. As mentioned above, the city of Tulum recently broke arrival records along with neighboring Playa del Carmen. Tulum’s popularity has grown so much that Mexico has started building its own Tulum International Airport to better serve the area. However, work was recently paused, and the project is no longer expected to be completed by December 2023.
While Tulum has great beaches that will make travelers dream of owning a beachfront villa, many travelers also head to Tulum to enjoy its proximity to some of the well-known ancient Mayan ruins. The ruins are located right along the seashore, which makes for a great day trip outside of the resort.
Los Cabos
On the other side of the country, in the lower part of Baja California, lies Los Cabos, another beach destination that has seen significant growth. Recent reports indicate that Los Cabos International Airport welcomed around 3.5 million passengers in the first six months of the year. This number is 19% higher than the 2019 figures.
While Cancun and its surrounding areas have been in the spotlight for many years, Los Cabos has begun to enter the fray. The area is one of the top three vacation spots in Mexico. Likewise, Los Cabos was the second favorite destination this summer, after Cancun.
Mexico is the place to go
The numbers don’t lie. Mexico is a leading destination and well worth a visit. Recent reports indicate that Americans are planning to travel further away this fall, and their preferred international destination is Mexico. For travelers interested in visiting one of the beautiful beach destinations above, check out our seven Travel Off Path tips for a stress-free travel to Mexico this fall here.
This article originally appeared on Travel Off Path. For the latest breaking news that will affect your next trip, please visit: Traveloffpath.com
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions It can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm entry of your citizenship and/or any changes to travel requirements prior to travel. Travel Off Path does not endorse travel against government warnings