Between January and February 2026, Mexico welcomed 16.85 million international visitors, a 9.3% increase from last year, according to Mexico’s Tourism Ministry (SCT).
Of the total, 8.17 million were international tourists, or overnight visitors. This group grew by 6.5% from last year, according to INEGI’s International Traveler Survey. In February, 8.01 million international visitors arrived, up 8.5%. INEGI reports 3.88 million international tourists that month, a 4.2% increase from last year.
Foreign visitors brought in US $6.75 billion during the two-month period, 2.2% more than in 2025. February earnings reached $3.27 billion.
“More people visiting Mexico shows confidence in our tourism experience,” said Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora. She called Mexico’s tourism diverse, high-quality, and improving.
These strong numbers emphasize Mexico’s growing appeal and anticipation for a landmark summer.
Mexico is co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the U.S. and Canada. Games are set for Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. A report from SI predicts hundreds of thousands of tourists, filling stadiums and bringing a major influx, though hotel capacity is a concern. Destinations like Los Cabos are marketing themselves as “second stop” luxury getaways for visitors after the games.
Mexico’s Tourism Ministry said it will keep working to attract visitors from more countries and support tourism growth nationwide. The ministry described tourism as a way to create shared prosperity.
Author: G. William Hood
Author, Columnist, Educator, Epistemologist, and Publisher
