Cruises have been one of the engines of the period. Mexican ports received 8.2 million cruise passengers, up 13.5 percent, who spent more than 716 million dollars, 17.3 percent more than a year earlier. Caribbean and Pacific ports keep gaining weight on the itineraries of the major cruise lines.Domestic tourism, for its part, underpins a large share of activity. More than 75 million Mexicans traveled within their own country, about 652,000 more than in the same period of 2025. The figure is a reminder that the sector does not depend solely on foreign arrivals. Indeed, the 2024 Tourism Satellite Account compiled by INEGI shows that roughly 83 of every 100 pesos spent by visitors inside the country came from residents, and that the activity contributed 8.7 percent of gross domestic product and nearly 2.9 million paid jobs.
Cultural attractions and major infrastructure projects also appear in the balance sheet. Museums logged more than seven million visits and archaeological zones passed six million. The Tren Maya carried over 65,000 foreign passengers, 1.6 percent more, a modest number for now but a sign that a corridor linking beaches, jungle and pre-Hispanic heritage in the southeast is taking shape.
With these numbers in hand, the authorities are already looking to the next big milestone on the calendar: the Day of the Dead, which runs from 26 October to 2 November 2026. The Tourism Secretariat expects 1.69 million tourists to stay in hotels during those days, 1.2 percent more than last year, and total visitors to exceed 2.5 million. Average hotel occupancy would stand at 58.9 percent, almost a full percentage point above the previous figure, with the main destinations moving between 70 and 80 percent. Spending is also expected to rise by more than 5 percent.
To accompany that forecast, the Visit México campaign has set up a QR code giving access to two hundred experiences across the country. Oaxaca, Michoacán, Mexico City and Yucatán are among the highlighted destinations for a celebration recognized worldwide for its blend of memory, cuisine, crafts and music.
The picture offers several lessons for other destinations. The first is that sustained growth requires diversifying markets and products, combining sun and beach, cruises, culture and tourist trains. The second is that a record in arrivals does not by itself guarantee a record in profitability, and that the key will lie in lengthening stays and raising spending per visitor. The third is that the domestic market acts as a cushion against international swings. If these trends hold until year end, Mexico could enter the final quarter with the confidence of a country that has shown it can attract visitors and, now, keep their wallets open.
