Mexico tourism hits record 2026 despite World Cup visitor shortfall

Mexico recorded a historic 42.87 million international travelers in the first five months of 2026, an 8.8 % rise over the same period in 2025. May alone saw 8.36 million arrivals, up 5.3 %, including 3.92 million overnight tourists, a 4.5 % increase. Tourism earnings reached $15.869 billion in foreign exchange during Jan‑May. However, average spending per traveler fell to $312.3, down 5.3 %; air‑arriving tourists spent $1,268 on average, while border tourists spent $110.

Despite the overall surge, the FIFA World Cup 2026 generated far fewer visitors than projected. The National Tourism Business Council (CNET) estimated 5.5 million tournament tourists, but actual arrivals were only about 850 000. Hotel occupancy in the three host cities (Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mexico City) in June hovered around 53‑56 %, down several points year‑on‑year. Monterrey International Airport reported 1.33 million passengers in June, with international traffic up 10.3 % (235 000) and a peak 25.5 % rise during the week of June 22‑28, reflecting the match schedule.