Canadian Tourists Flock to Mexico as U.S. Visits Drop

Mexico’s tourism sector, after recovering to pre-pandemic growth levels, is expressing concern about a drop in foreign visits, especially from the United States. A study conducted in collaboration with Anáhuac University of Cancún by the National Business Tourism Council (CNET) warned that revenues in 2026 will remain at the same level as last year, at 135 billion dollars.

Antonio Cosío, president of CNET, said at a press conference that the decline in American tourists, who represent 65% of air tourism, is affecting the sector’s income. Although Canadian tourist arrivals to Mexico have grown by 7.1% compared with last year, that increase has only partially offset the drop in visitors from the United States. “Canada is ceasing flights to the United States due to the conflict surrounding the USMCA,” Cosío said.

This year, the United States and Canada began a series of disputes as part of the renegotiation of the USMCA. The United States sought to change Canadian regulations it considered unfair and initiated sanctions of up to 50%. Canada responded with additional retaliatory tariffs affecting sectors such as steel, dairy, household appliances and electronics. Canadians launched a campaign in which they stopped consuming products from the United States, and the movement extended to tourism.

“An immediate reaction we have seen since the beginning of Trump’s second administration has been to stop traveling as a kind of punishment,” said Francisco Madrid, director of Stark at Anáhuac University in Cancún. “The decline in Canadian travel to the United States is in the double digits, and Mexico has benefited from this,” he added.

Insecurity continues to be one of the factors explaining the decline in the sector, as the government of Donald Trump itself has recommended that its citizens not travel to the country because of various acts of violence.