Mexico’s tourism secretary says domestic tourism is rising, with hotel arrivals up 3–4% across the country’s top destinations in the first seven weeks of 2026. The message is clear: despite recent security headlines and short-lived flight disruptions in parts of the West, core hubs are still filling rooms and moving passengers. The numbers highlight where demand is holding firm, and what early indicators can and cannot tell travelers as peak season rolls on this year.
Early-year hotel arrivals edge higher
Sectur says the country’s domestic tourism began in 2026 with higher hotel demand. Across the 20 main destinations, hotel arrivals during the first seven weeks of the year were up 3–4%. The agency is using that figure to reinforce a business as usual message. The timing covers roughly January through mid-February, when winter demand is usually strong. The estimate is based on early reporting compiled from state tourism offices. The measure here is not total trips. It focuses on people checking into hotels in major leisure hubs. That matters because it tracks demand where most visitors concentrate, and where jobs depend on occupancy. It also captures the part of travel that is easiest to count quickly. Still, it is an early snapshot. It blends weekend surges with quieter midweek periods. It can also shift with weather, flight schedules, and school calendars. For now, the headline number suggests travel inside Mexico is holding up at the start of 2026.
Occupancy points to steady demand
Early occupancy readings help explain why officials are leaning on the growth claim. In Jalisco, the state’s average hotel occupancy was reported at 61% before February 22. Puerto Vallarta was reported at 92%, indicating high room utilization in the destination. In Guerrero, the statewide average was reported at 86.6% that same weekend window. Acapulco averaged 89.6% across its zones, while Ixtapa was reported at 86.8%. Officials also said several states across the north, center, and south were tracking near typical levels for January and February. Outside the largest hubs, the early data pointed to different rates of change by state and city. In Oaxaca, hotel arrivals in January were reported up 6.6% from a year earlier. Several other states were described as posting gains between 2.1% and 9%. Some city destinations were described as recording double-digit increases compared with last January. These figures are preliminary, but they suggest demand is not concentrated in one region.
Airports return toward normal schedules
Officials also pointed to air connectivity after the disruption in late February. On February 24, the Guadalajara airport was reported operating at about 96% of active flights, and Puerto Vallarta at about 95%. The expectation was a return to full schedules as airlines rebuilt rotations and crews. Two days earlier, authorities said some international flights bound for Puerto Vallarta were diverted under airline protocols. Some carriers also paused service to Puerto Vallarta for a short period. Officials said terminals continued operating and that emergency operations centers were running under standard procedures. A separate Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP) traffic report for January 2026 adds context on demand. It shows total passengers rising 3.6% in Guadalajara and 2.6% in Puerto Vallarta versus January 2025. Domestic passengers were up 6.0% in Guadalajara and 5.7% in Puerto Vallarta, based on those counts. International totals were roughly flat in Guadalajara and up 1.1% in Puerto Vallarta. Taken together, the airport and hotel signals point to continued travel activity despite temporary schedule changes.
What to watch next
The growth figure should be read as a directional signal, not a final tally. The first seven weeks are shaped by winter travel patterns and weekend breaks. A clearer test will come with March and April, when demand shifts around school holidays and Semana Santa. If room nights remain high through that period, it would support the view that domestic demand is resilient. If cancellations rise, it would suggest sentiment is more sensitive than occupancy snapshots imply. For expats living in Mexico, the near-term implication is in planning. High occupancy in places like Puerto Vallarta can reduce availability and move rates higher on peak weekends. Air schedules can also change quickly when airlines apply precautionary protocols. Checking airline notices and airport advisories matters most during fast-moving events. Sectur’s message is that core destinations are functioning normally and drawing travelers. The next releases and month-end traffic totals will show whether this early pace holds into spring.
These statistics were taken prior to the February 22, 2026, cartel violence around Mexico, which has resulted in cancellations that will be reflected in the second-quarter reporting.
With information from Enfoque Noticias, Secretaría de Turismo (Sectur), Talla Política, Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP)
