Mexico Leads North America in Travel and Tourism Growth, Spend and Arrivals in 2025

Mexico emerged as North America’s strongest Travel & Tourism performer in 2025, outperforming both the United States and Canada across key growth indicators including Travel & Tourism GDP, international visitor spending, and international arrivals, according to new 2026 EIR data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, sponsored by Chase Travel, Lead Research Partner.

Mexico Emerges as Regional Leader:
WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), sponsored by Chase Travel, confirms Mexico outperformed both the United States and Canada in 2025 across Travel & Tourism GDP, international visitor spending, and arrivals.

GDP Growth:
Mexico’s Travel & Tourism GDP expanded 1.8%, ahead of the U.S. (0.9%) and Canada (1.2%).

Visitor Spending:
International visitor spending in Mexico rose 3.5%, while the U.S. declined 4.6% and Canada declined 3.5%.

Arrivals:
Mexico welcomed a 6.1% increase in international arrivals, contrasting with declines of 5.5% in the U.S. and 0.6% in Canada.

Global Outlook:
Travel & Tourism is forecast to contribute $12 trillion to the world economy in 2026, representing 9.9% of global GDP and supporting 376 million jobs worldwide.

North America Resilience:
The region benefits from strong domestic demand and lower exposure to geopolitical disruptions compared to other parts of the world.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Impact:
- Canada: projected GDP growth 6.4%
- Mexico: projected GDP growth 2.4%
- United States: projected GDP growth 2.1%
This event is expected to accelerate tourism growth and showcase North America globally.

Strategic Priorities:
WTTC emphasizes investment in aviation, infrastructure, digital innovation, and streamlined entry processes to sustain competitiveness.

Jobs Outlook:
Travel & Tourism is forecast to support 30.9 million jobs across North America in 2026, representing 12.7% of all regional employment.

Leadership Statement:
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, highlighted Mexico’s strong performance and described the FIFA World Cup as a “once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity” to strengthen connectivity and long‑term tourism growth.