Mexico Expands Tourism in US and Canada

Mexico City — The Mexican Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have successfully concluded a promotional tour in Chicago, United States, and Toronto, Canada, which are primary sources of visitors to the country.

The Mexican delegation was led by Miguel Aguíñiga Rodríguez, head of the Unit for Innovation, Sustainability, and Tourism Professionalization of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur), representing Secretary Josefina Rodríguez Zamora. The delegation included state authorities from Mexico City, Michoacán, Oaxaca, and Zacatecas, as well as representatives from the Tren Maya and the Mundo Maya Group, and national companies in Chicago.

In Toronto, authorities from Mexico City, Chihuahua, Oaxaca, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Mundo Maya, and Tren Maya, along with Mexican companies, were present.

Thanks to coordination with the Mexican Consulates in Chicago, headed by Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, and in Toronto, led by Ambassador Porfirio Thierry Muñoz Ledo, key meetings were held with strategic players in the tourism industry, including airlines, tour operators, developers, and sector associations.

In Chicago, the Consulate coordinated meetings with Apple Leisure Group, American Airlines, Aeroméxico, United, and Delta Airlines. The Consulate also hosted a meeting with tour operators and travel agencies focused on the Hispanic market. In this meeting, representatives from the Tourism Secretariats of Mexico City, Michoacán, Nayarit, and Zacatecas presented the competitive advantages of their tourist destinations. Representatives from the Mundo Maya Group presented their chain of hotels located near archaeological sites in southeastern Mexico.

Furthermore, the Consulate convened a working meeting with strategic actors in tourism, commerce, and connectivity, such as the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce, Choose Chicago, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. During this meeting, best practices in tourism promotion were exchanged and opportunities for collaboration were identified.

Additionally, a seminar titled “Meet México” was held, where the delegation presented the tourist, cultural, and gastronomic offerings of each of the participating states. The event was attended by 80 representatives from local travel agencies focused on the U.S. market.

In Toronto, the Consulate promoted engagements with Sunwing Vacation Group, Destination Toronto, and other strategic allies. In these meetings, it was highlighted that during the first six months of 2025, a flow of 1.5 million Canadians to Mexico was recorded, of which more than 500,000 were from Ontario.

It was also noted that Canadian tourists have currently chosen to vacation more in Mexico than in the United States, with a growing interest in short trips during the off-season. An increase in demand for authentic cultural and gastronomic experiences in Mexico by Canadian tourists was also observed. Furthermore, the primary destinations chosen by Canadians are nature and adventure tourism spots.

During the tour, the Mexican government's priority projects, such as the Tren Maya, were presented. The historic opportunity represented by the 2026 FIFA World Cup was also highlighted, which will position Mexico, Canada, and the United States as one of the most attractive regions for tourism globally.

Miguel Aguíñiga Rodríguez stated that these meetings aim to encourage the arrival of more tourists from the United States and Canada, the two most important markets for the country. He also highlighted that, according to data from the Unit for Migration Policy, Registry, and Identity of Persons of the Ministry of the Interior, the three main countries of residence for foreign tourists who arrived by air to Mexico during the first half of 2025 were the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with a combined total of 9 million, 250 thousand, 260 tourists.

“I want to thank the commitment of the consuls to the tourist promotion of our country, as well as the enthusiasm of the states for joining this initiative. Only by working as a team will we manage to position Mexico as a leading destination worldwide,” he asserted.