Cancún Travel Mart: $5.2B in Tourism Deals

Cancún, Mexico — The thirty-seventh edition of the Cancún Travel Mart has solidified Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres as tourism and business references for the Mexican Caribbean. Over three days at the Iberostar Cancún hotel, business leaders, authorities, and tourism service providers convened to establish alliances, strengthen markets, and explore investment opportunities.

The event consolidated its position with more than 550 accredited delegates, participation from 28 countries, and sales expectations reaching $5.2 billion.

Rodrigo de la Peña Segura, President of the Association of Hotels of Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres, emphasized that "the potential for growth offered by this platform is immense, and the meetings held over these days will continue to add alliances and projects that generate success for our destinations."

The Governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama Espinosa, highlighted that local tourism is experiencing a new stage, where the quality of life for workers and the excellence of services are as important as the numbers. "This event is a space of trust, of alliances, of shared vision; it is a reflection of the talent and perseverance of those who work every day so that Quintana Roo continues to be an example of competitiveness and development with a human sense," expressed the governor.

Also participating were the state Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto Riestra; the municipal presidents of Benito Juárez, Ana Paty Peralta de la Peña; of Isla Mujeres, Atenea Gómez Ricalde; of Puerto Morelos, Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz; and of Playa del Carmen, Estefanía Mercado. Also present were leaders from the hotel and tourism sectors, including José Chapur Zahoul, David Ortiz Mena, Miguel Ángel Fong González, and Jorge Paoli Díaz.

Sustainability

A highlighted moment was the presentation of the "Destino Cero Residuos Cancún" project, promoted by Sustentur, the TUI Care Foundation, and the Association of Hotels of Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres. The project seeks to reduce the environmental impact of plastics and glass, promoting circular economy practices and consolidating Cancún as a pioneering destination in tourism sustainability.

The Director of Sustentur, Vicente Ferreyra, explained the five key components of the project, which include conducting a waste diagnosis in the sector, implementing the "Menos Plástico" Guide in 15 Cancún hotels, and organizing an Annual Zero Waste Forum. "With this, we are aligning the destinations of the Mexican Caribbean with the best international practices in sustainability and responsible tourism," he stated.

In parallel, Governor Mara Lezama highlighted the push for community tourism, using the example of Maya Ka'an, where 76 Mayan communities offer unique cultural experiences and have become protagonists of local tourism. Furthermore, she underscored that Caribbean-Mexican gastronomy, with more than 20 restaurants recognized by the Michelin Guide, has been consolidated as a key attraction of the destination.

Business and International Connectivity

At the close of the event, Rodrigo de la Peña detailed that the meeting registered more than 550 accredited delegates and 2,231 confirmed business meetings, totaling an estimated more than 4,000 commercial interactions. The sales expectation reached $5.2 billion, surpassing the results from the previous year and reaffirming the confidence of international markets.

The Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto, highlighted that the participation of 28 countries, including Belize, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Italy, Sweden, and Paraguay, reflects the growing connectivity of Cancún and its role as a tourism hub for the region. Furthermore, more than 80 national and international media outlets covered the event, broadening the global projection of the represented destinations.

The governor also emphasized the relevance of the Mexican Caribbean for the Soccer World Cup, indicating that 40% of the nearly 5 million fans who will visit Mexico will arrive through this region. "We have connectivity with all the World Cup host cities and two hotels are already listed as official team bases," she highlighted.

Authentic Experiences

Puerto Morelos used the Cancún Travel Mart to promote its natural and cultural attractions. The municipal president, Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz, stated that the destination combines tranquility, contact with nature, beaches, the Mesoamerican Reef, the Ruta de los Cenotes, and quality gastronomy, in addition to implementing policies of inclusion and respect towards diversity.

The Secretary of Sustainable Tourism, Raúl Guadarrama, explained that presentations were made to media from the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as meetings with tour operators and wholesalers, strengthening commercial ties and the international projection of the destination. "Puerto Morelos maintains its essence as a fishing village, where visitors can enjoy tranquility and authentic experiences, away from commercial chains and franchises," he commented.

The tourism offering includes adventure activities such as diving, snorkeling, cenote exploration, and cultural events like Janal Pixán, which celebrates the Day of the Dead from the Mayan tradition with tours of decorated boats and contests for Catrinas and Alebrijes.

Perspectives and Future Editions

The Hotel Association announced that the thirty-eighth edition of the Cancún Travel Mart will focus on digitalization, sustainability, and international expansion. Rodrigo de la Peña advanced that innovations are being prepared that will enhance networking and the competitiveness of the destinations.

With this edition, the Cancún Travel Mart reaffirms its position as one of the most important events on the global tourism calendar, highlighting the collaboration between the public and private sectors, and consolidating Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres as sustainable, competitive destinations with high-value tourism experiences.