While Mexico sees steady growth in Canadian tourists, the U.S. is experiencing a notable decline – a situation often attributed to what some call "the Trump effect." DATATUR's official numbers show that between January and May, roughly 1.6 million Canadian visitors graced Mexican soil, up 11.6% from the year before. Conversely, data from Tourism Economics and the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office paints a different picture, revealing a 24% drop in Canadian tourism to the United States during the first six months.
This shift isn't just a blip; with Canadians making up a quarter of all foreign visitors to the U.S., the economic fallout is estimated in the billions.
What are the favorite destinations for Canadian tourists in Mexico?
When Canadians head south, Mexico's hotspots call. Cancun leads the pack, drawing around 0.9 million tourists, with Puerto Vallarta following at 0.3 million.
Generally speaking, Mexico's beaches are a major draw for foreign tourists. Looking at air arrivals, figures from INEGI show some interesting trends. While Cancun saw a minor dip of -6.9% and Puerto Vallarta -4.0%, Tulum exploded with growth at +191.4%, and Monterrey rose by +20.5%. Cozumel, however, suffered a decline of -22.6%.
The surge in Tulum alongside the declines in other Quintana Roo destinations can, in most cases, be attributed to the opening of the Tulum airport.
What's behind the U.S. decline in Canadian tourism?
Back in 2024, Canadian tourists dropped $20.5 billion in the United States, but 2025 is shaping up to be quite different. The U.S. Travel Association warns that for every 1% drop in spending by international visitors, the country stands to lose roughly $1.8 billion in export revenue. Should this trend hold, the losses could well exceed $21 billion by year's end.
Analysts often suggest that the perceived "Donald Trump factor" has played a significant role in Canadians' decisions to vacation elsewhere.
How does international tourism look in Mexico?
Beyond just the Canadian situation, international tourism in Mexico is holding its own. INEGI's International Travelers Survey indicates that the country welcomed 8.02 million international visitors in June 2025, an 11.5% jump from 2024. Of these, approximately 50.7% were classified as international tourists, with the other 49.3% being excursionists.
Air arrivals accounted for the majority – 81.1% – of inbound tourists, although this did show a slight annual decrease of -2.8%. Land routes saw a 15.1% increase, and border tourism really took off, surging 26% with 1.79 million people.
What's the economic impact of tourism in Mexico?
In June 2025, international visitors spent a total of $2,751.3 million, up 5.7% year-on-year. That being said, the average expenditure per visitor fell slightly by -5.2%, settling at $343.06.
For international tourists specifically, the average spend was $1,009.10, with those arriving by air spending more (averaging $1,171.51) than those who came by land ($310.91). Border tourists, in comparison, spent around $109.56 on average.