Puerto Vallarta listed as #2 destination for gay travel

Mexico is reporting that in the calendar year of 2016, the country saw growth of 9% over the prior year – more than double the worldwide industry average (3.9%) that was reported by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) last month.

The record-breaking 35 million International visitors also spent 10.4% more money they guests did in the prior year, highlighting a growing demand in product from the region – from luxury goods, to the ever growing food scene. They’re also arriving by air, rather than by land or sea, more than ever, with a 10.7% growth over the previous year. Increased flight options are cited as one of the primary reasons for this increase.

“Mexico’s sustained, fast growth is a testament to the incredible quality and diversity in our tourism offering and the hard work for the entire industry, both internationally and domestically,” said Lourdes Berho, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board.

“More than 9 million Mexicans working in the tourism and hospitality industry have made it their mission to ensure visitors have incredible experiences. Plans are already underway to ensure 2017 builds upon these achievements and that Mexico continues to welcome all visitors and give them reasons to come back again and again.”

And the good news for the Mexican tourism industry in 2016 didn’t stop there. To name just a few highlights…

  • The country was named best in the world for Family Travel, and Puerto Vallarta as #2 destination in the world for LGBTQ travel, by the global Travvy Awards.
  • For the third year in a row, Mexico was ranked as the friendliest and most welcoming country in the world by the John Mason survey of expatriates in 191 countries.
  • The New York Times named Tijuana (#8) and Puerto Escondido (#32) in their 52 Places to Go in 2017.
  • Mexico City was featured as the #1 place to visit in their 2016 list.
  • Travel & Leisure’s “World’s Best Awards” reader survey named five Mexican cities in its Top 10 Best Cities in Latin America rankings, including San Miguel de Allende (#1), Oaxaca (#3), Mexico City (#4), Merida (#5), Guadalajara (#8).
  • The Rough Guides named Mexico City as the #2 city to visit.
  • National Geographic named Baja California as one of its top places you need to visit in 2017. Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 2017 selected multiple locations in the Riviera Maya and Yucatan region including Tulum for one of its largest features in 2017.

And the list could go on. Looking ahead to the future, the Mexico Tourism Board has also announced a tourism development strategy for 2017 that includes a focus on developing expanded products and personalized marketing campaigns focusing on areas such as luxury, weddings and romance, diving, biodiversity and nature, culture, gastronomy, high-profile events, sports and adventure, as well as programs for audience segments such as millennials, LGBTQ and retirees. This strategy will help in achieving the new ambitious goal of reaching 50 million international visitors by 2021.

For more information about Mexico, visit visitmexico.com. Source: Mexico Tourism Board

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