Canadians Now Top Visitors to Mexico’s Caribbean

Quintana Roo, Mexico — Canadian tourism has taken the lead in international travel to Mexico's Caribbean coast during the first quarter of 2025, surpassing the historically dominant U.S. market, according to recent air traffic data. The shift marks a notable change in visitor demographics for the region, long reliant on American travelers.

Canadian Routes Dominate International Arrivals

Data compiled by the Center for Advanced Research in Sustainable Tourism (SATRC) reveals that the Cancún-Toronto route topped the list with over 400 flights, followed closely by Cancún-Montreal. These figures outpaced traditional U.S. routes such as Cancún-Chicago and Cancún-Dallas.

Francisco Madrid, Director General of SATRC, noted the contrasting trends between Canadian growth and declining U.S. arrivals. "There is a contraction in international travelers from the United States, where we are seeing a clear decrease. On the other hand, we are witnessing unprecedented growth in Canadian tourism, particularly from Toronto and Montreal," he said.

Madrid acknowledged that the newly operational Tulum International Airport has absorbed some of the reduced traffic previously concentrated in Cancún. "While there has been a decline in arrivals at Cancún’s airport, roughly half of that reduction has been offset by flights redirected to Tulum. This redistribution is significant," he explained.

U.S. Market Decline Poses Challenge

The downturn in U.S. visitors presents a key challenge for the region. "Our immediate focus must be on regaining the confidence and interest of the U.S. market, which has historically been our primary source of tourism," Madrid emphasized. He attributed the decline to increased global competition and emerging alternative destinations.

Domestic Flights Remain Strong

Domestic connectivity to Cancún and Tulum remained robust in early 2025. The Mexico City-Cancún route led with over 800 flights, followed by routes from Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), Guadalajara, and Monterrey. AIFA also strengthened its role in Caribbean-bound travel, with nearly 90 flights to Tulum in the first quarter.

Top 10 International Routes to the Mexican Caribbean (January–March 2025):

1. Cancún–Toronto: 418 flights
2. Cancún–Montreal: 293
3. Cancún–Chicago: 283
4. Cancún–Dallas: 262
5. Cancún–Atlanta: 223
6. Cancún–Minneapolis: 220
7. Cancún–Houston: 214
8. Cancún–New York: 208
9. Cancún–Denver: 158
10. Cancún–Panamá: 155

Top 10 Domestic Routes to the Mexican Caribbean (January–March 2025):

1. Cancún–Mexico City: 833 flights
2. AIFA–Cancún: 265
3. Cancún–Guadalajara: 229
4. Cancún–Monterrey: 219
5. Cancún–Toluca: 108
6. Cancún–Tijuana: 92
7. Cancún–Puebla: 89
8. AIFA–Tulum: 88
9. Mexico City–Chetumal: 79
10. Cancún–Bajío: 77

The data underscores the resilience of domestic air travel in sustaining the region’s tourism sector amid shifting international trends.