Mexican Inbound Tourism growth - the strongest to date.

While the US market continues its decline (down 8.8% in May, down 15 % Jan to May), Mexico marches on as one of the fastest growing markets for Canadian inbound tourism. Mexican visits in May were up 19.9% and are up 18.5% for the first five months of the year. This is spectacular growth during shoulder season. Numbers for June, July and August should be equally spectacular if not more so. All of this is proof that increased marketing efforts in Mexico by various industry stakeholders is paying off. However, there is much more room for growth. Last year's results (213,945 visitors) were in the 10% growth range, a mark that should be surpassed this year by several points.
It is in the realm of possibility that we could reach over 300,000 Mexican tourists in 2008 or 2009. I have said in the past that there are enough affluent Mexican travellers for Canada to receive over 500,000 visitors per year from that country. But in order to reach that goal more work needs to be done in the area of marketing and work with the airlines.

This year the CTC's marketplace in Mexico has invited operators from other Latin American countries to participate. This bodes very well for Hispanic tourism to Canada. But what about Spain? Spain was not invited. Spain, in my opinion, has enormous potential for Canada. I believe that a one million dollar investment in marketing in Spain could result in one hundred million dollars of economic benefit to Canadian tourism. The tourism industry has traditionally segmented markets geographically. Nothing wrong with that. But stepping outside comfort zones for a minute, why not address markets culturally and by language. This is not that dificult to do online, as Canadá en Español has always done. The websites reach over 30 countries with two main things in common: Hispanic culture and Spanish language. And although there are differences among these countries, these can be adressed with relevant content. Travellers looking for bookings could be directed to suppliers in their own country/city or to global providers like major hote chains that can take bookings from anyone online.

Any thoughts? Leave a comment.

Jaime

http://www.cactusrock.com/