Mexico’s 2027 Budget Leaves Tourism Promotion Behind Despite Visitor Slump

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Tourism promotion has once again fallen outside the Mexican federal government’s budget priorities, even as the country records a drop in international arrivals.

The 2027 Federal Expenditure Budget Proposal (PPEF) allocates 1,851.3 million pesos to the Tourism Ministry (Sectur), a nominal increase of just 57.9 million pesos over the 2026 budget.

Higher Fees, Less Promotion

The same proposal calls for a 35.8 percent increase in the Non-Resident Fee (DNR) paid by foreign visitors entering Mexico. In other words, the government plans to collect more money from tourism without investing more in promoting the country.

According to the document, 2027 will include efforts to position the Mexico brand through “participation in international tourism fairs, marketing strategies and destination promotion, as well as bilateral relations and participation in international organizations.”

But the funds assigned to the Directorate General of Promotion and International Affairs, which handles much of that work, contradict the stated goal. The office would receive just 25 million pesos in 2027, a real reduction of 43 percent compared with the resources authorized for 2026.

Nearly Half of Sectur’s Budget Goes to Fonatur

About 46 percent of Sectur’s projected budget — 847,750,891 pesos — would go to the National Tourism Development Fund (Fonatur). Those resources would be aimed mainly at encouraging and promoting tourism investment by selling lots and properties in the Integrated Planned Centers (CIPs) and Integrated Tourism Projects (PTIs) developed by the fund.

The proposal also envisions using the money to attract investment into the national tourism sector by advising and supporting developers, investors, micro, small and medium-sized businesses, community groups and social organizations.

Hotel industry leaders in Quintana Roo have not yet taken a position on the proposal, though they have already voiced opposition to the DNR increase. Hoteliers insist that money should flow back into promotion, particularly at a time when arrivals are falling.