Growth of Tourism in Mexico

Tourism is a growth industry in Mexico. The country attracted visitors, especially from the United States, for many years, but in relatively limited numbers. Historically these tourists came to visit Mexico City and surrounding colonial towns in the Mesa Central and to see the archaeological ruins at Tenochtitlan and Tulum. More adventurous tourists went to the Mayan ruins of the Yucatan or to the Indian-dominated Oaxaca Valley. People later discovered Mexico's beaches, and the government invested heavily in this sector of the economy.

Nearly 17 million tourists visit the country every year, and they spend nearly 6 billion dollars in hotels, restaurants, stores, and for transportation. Tourism is Mexico's largest economic activity after petroleum. Much of the increase has been to resort and archaeological sites improved by the government. Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Cancun, Cozumel, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas were developed or significantly improved beginning in the 1960s through the construction of new airports, hotels, and other tourist facilities. As a result these sites have become world famous. Given an exotic cultural diversity, tropical environmental settings, and relatively low prices, Mexico exerts a strong attraction on United States tourists, who represent more than 90 percent of all visitors to the country.