ForwardKeys reports strong demand for international travel to Mexico

MEXICO. Mexico’s position as a top holiday destination in 2021 and beyond is strengthening, according to new data shared by ForwardKeys.

International flight tickets issued from 1 January to 23 June this year for any future travel to the country are +31.9% ahead of 2019 numbers for the same period.

This graph plots the international flight demand from three key source markets for any future travel for tickets bought between 7 January and 23 June (click to enlarge)

For tickets issued between these dates, the travel data analyst revealed that the top performing source market is Ecuador (+35.9%), followed by the US (+30.4%). Three European source markets are also performing strongly in the form of Spain (+27.6%), Switzerland (+21.3%) and France (+5.2%).

These two tables underline the strong demand for international travel to Mexico compared to other countries (click to enlarge)

ForwardKeys attributes Mexico’s strong recent performance to comparatively relaxed travel restrictions into the country, the reinstalment of flight capacity and good progress with the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

The top-performing destination cities for arrivals for Q3 travel from the US (click to enlarge)

Emphasising this, it revealed that international flight tickets issued as of 23 June for travel to Mexico between 1 July and 30 September are down just -3.2% against tickets issued in Q3 of 2019. For the same period, the total of flight tickets from the US is +31.9% ahead.

ForwardKeys Insights Analyst Juan Gomez pointed to air connectivity as a key driver of demand for international travel to Mexico

ForwardKeys Insights Analyst Juan Gomez said: “The northern neighbours have greatly aided the tourism sector in Mexico. Our air ticketing data has consistently shown the popularity of flights from the USA to Mexico since the summer of 2020, particularly on routes to Los Cabos in Baja California, Cancún and Puerto Vallarta.”

Gomez also pointed out that connectivity is a key driver for Mexican demand: “Currently, airlines are offering just -6% less seats than in 2019 for all international routes to Mexico in July and August.

“Although seats from the USA continue to show the highest increase, +16% above 2019 levels, the improvement of capacity from key European markets such as France, only -20% below the summer 2019, will definitely have an impact in the destination and help diversify the demand.”

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