Mexico tourism figures disputed amid cyber fraud warnings for World Cup 2026

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico received 34.5 million foreign visitors in the first quarter of 2026, implying about 383,000 arrivals each day. Airport data, however, shows roughly 24,000 international arrivals daily, casting doubt on the government's numbers.

The tourism sector recorded a record 98.2 million international visitors in 2025, and officials warn that the surge in travelers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup could attract cyber‑fraud schemes. Mexican cyber‑crime units reported nearly 9,000 digital‑crime reports in five months, with many cases involving fake travel offers, counterfeit QR codes and “ghost vacation” scams that have defrauded consumers.