Mexico and Latin America see shifting beach travel preferences amid tourism policy criticism

HotelDO reports a 7.4% rise in travel searches and bookings this season compared with the previous year, with Latin American travelers favoring traditional beach hubs such as Cancún, Punta Cana, Aruba, Cartagena and San Andrés. Growing interest is also seen in non‑traditional spots like Curazao, Los Cabos, Tulum, Porto Vallarta, Florianópolis (Brazil), Punta del Este (Uruguay) and Mendoza (Argentina).

Tourism agencies and industry leaders have criticized Mexico’s Secretariat of Tourism, led by Josefina Rodríguez Zamora under President‑elect Claudia Sheinbaum, for favouring “pueblos mágicos” over premium beach destinations such as Cancún, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos and La Paz. They cite inadequate support, unresolved sargassum issues and a lack of response to local concerns, while noting that the FIFA World Cup 2026 failed to generate the expected tourism boost.