As airports around Canada are announcing record-breaking traffic in 2016, there’s more good news for the friendly skies. According to the Mexico Tourism Board, Mexico’s airline partners have already announced the addition of more than one million new seats on international flights into Mexico in 2017.

"This expansion includes service to Mexico from many new international cities to multiple Mexico destinations, which is part of our strategy of international market diversification,” said Lourdes Berho, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. “We are delighted to see our airline industry partners continue to recognize this momentum and further expand their connectivity. While the 2016 Mexico tourism numbers are still being finalized, it's clear that we will have another record-setting year of industry-leading growth in terms of international visitors to Mexico."

In the past four years, the tourism industry in Mexico has grown significantly.

A report from the tourism board cites an average annual growth of 10 per cent, which is twice the global average. In 2013, there were 24 million international visitors to Mexico. In 2016, that number is expected to reach 35 million. (The Mexico Tourism Board is still finalizing its statistics for last year.)

What’s more, in 2015 Mexico jumped to the ninth-most visited country in the world, up from its place at number 15 in 2013, according to numbers from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

New Routes from Canada

As of January 2017, planned new routes from Canada include:

• Aeromexico: Vancouver to Mexico City; Calgary to Mexico City

• Air Canada Rouge: Vancouver to Cancun

• Air Transat: Vancouver to Los Cabos

• Sunwing Airlines: Winnipeg to Mazatlan

For global ports beyond Canada, Mexico will welcome new flights from the United States, Austria, Finland, Italy, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands and Poland.

Increased Frequency and Upgraded Aircraft

Mexico isn’t just enjoying the benefit of new routes, it is also seeing airline partners increasing the frequency on existing routes. More than 25 existing will be adding frequency or upgrading to larger airplanes, which will also help boost tourism numbers.

Air France, for example, launched service from Paris to Mexico City and Cancun on the A380, becoming the first airline to fly this aircraft to Mexico.

The Mexico Tourism Board has also recently rolled out a new tourism industry strategy that focuses on luxury, weddings and romance, diving, bio-diversity and nature, culture, gastronomy, high profile events, sports and adventure, as well as specific programs for specific market segments like millennials, LGBT and retirees.

The Tourism Board has announced its intent to attract 50 million international visitors by 2021.

For more information on visiting Mexico, see www.visitmexico.com. 

Follow @MonicaPoling