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Explore how understanding Mexican travelers‘ preferences can significantly boost tourism revenue and impact local economies.
Grasping the habits and inclinations of Mexican tourists is essential for boosting tourism profits. Civitatis, a leading entity in the online market for guided tours, activities, and excursions in Spanish across 160 countries, highlights the substantial financial contributions of Spanish-speaking tourists to local markets and the vast opportunities for expansion as Mexican tourists increasingly utilize digital payment options.
Spanish ranks as the second most spoken native language globally, with a staggering 750 million speakers. Mexico tops the list with 126 million native Spanish speakers.
In the year 2023, Mexico recorded an impressive 46 million international departures, showcasing the powerful impact of the Spanish-speaking demographic, particularly Mexicans, in international tourism. Recent figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) – an independent entity of the Mexican Government that coordinates the national system for statistical and geographical data – show a notable rise in international trips by Mexican residents. In May 2024, Mexican residents traveling abroad surged by 30% compared to May 2023, totaling 5,360,549 travelers.
Civitatis reports from its internal data a substantial 85% increase in the number of Mexican nationals traveling internationally from January to May 2024, compared to the same timeframe in 2023. This surge exceeds the national trend and highlights a preference for distant European destinations such as Italy, Spain, France, and the UK, rather than closer ones like the USA or Colombia.
Data from INEGI indicates that Mexicans spending abroad reached $895.6 million, a 21.5% increase year-over-year. The average spending per trip also rose, with Mexican tourists spending an average of $167.08 each. Civitatis adds that the average spending per person per activity increased by over 10% in 2024, further emphasizing the significant economic influence of Mexican tourists in their preferred travel locations.
Juan Rossello, Country Manager of Civitatis Mexico and Business Development USA and Central America, said: “The growing number of Mexican travellers and their spending power present a significant opportunity for the global tourism industry. By understanding their payment preferences and travel behaviours, businesses can better cater to this valuable market segment. Encouraging the adoption of digital payment methods will not only enhance the travel experience for Mexican tourists but also unlock substantial growth potential for local economies in their chosen destinations.”
A study by Fiserv, a worldwide leader in financial technology and payments, which provides services including banking, international commerce, merchant services, billing, and point-of-sale systems, underscores the need to comprehend the payment preferences of Mexican tourists. Despite the rise of digital solutions, cash remains the dominant payment method among Mexicans, with 100% favoring it, particularly for everyday or minor purchases (47% utilization). However, debit and credit cards are also popular, used by 85% and 66% of Mexicans, respectively. Digital payment methods, although less prevalent at 34% adoption, are seen as having substantial potential for growth due to their ease of use and enhanced security features.
Rossello comments on this matter: “The digital payments field in Mexico is growing annually, and we could further enhance this development with specialised, secure technology that ensures safe and fast transactions, thereby improving the variety of payment methods.” As more Mexicans adopt digital payment methods, the potential for economic growth within the tourism sector increases significantly.”
Ensuring the ‘protection and processing without delays’ of payments is crucial for fostering long-term relationships with banking and financial institutions. An omnichannel acceptance model for payment methods allows businesses to evolve and cater to the diverse needs of travelers. As digital payment adoption increases, so does the potential for significant growth in tourism revenue.”
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