Business · Economy · 52 mins ago
Foreign tourist spending rises in Mexico City and three other destinations
Foreign visitors spent more using Visa cards during the week of Day of the Dead and the Formula 1 Mexican Grand Prix than in the same period of 2025.
Spending rose 41% in Mexico City and about 109% in Pátzcuaro, Oaxaca City and Puebla.
Day of the Dead visitors drove growth in the three cities outside the capital, with visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Germany leading the increase.
In Mexico City, spending grew most at restaurants, accommodation businesses and supermarkets, while contactless payments nearly doubled.
Foreign visitors’ card spending rose 17% nationwide, and contactless payments increased 86%.
The increase brought more business to tourism-related services, including restaurants, hotels and shops.
Mexico’s Tourism Ministry and Visa said their ongoing partnership uses aggregated payment data to help improve tourism planning and payment services.
Foreign tourists’ Visa spending rose 41% in Mexico City during the week of Day of the Dead and the Mexico City Formula 1 Grand Prix, compared with the same period in 2025.
Spending rose by about 109% in Pátzcuaro, Oaxaca de Juárez and Puebla.
Across Mexico, foreign visitors’ Visa spending increased 17%.
The tourism ministry said the analysis was conducted under a collaboration agreement with Visa.
The ministry said sporting events and Mexican traditions help attract international visitors and benefit tourism businesses.
- Who
- Foreign tourists using Visa cards.
- What
- Their spending rose in Mexico City and three other destinations during a week of major events.
- When
- During the week of Day of the Dead and the Mexico City Formula 1 Grand Prix, compared with the same period in 2025.
- Where
- Mexico City, Pátzcuaro in Michoacán, Oaxaca de Juárez in Oaxaca, and Puebla in Puebla.
- Why
- The increase in Pátzcuaro, Oaxaca de Juárez and Puebla was driven by international visitors attending Day of the Dead celebrations. The ministry said sporting events and Mexican traditions attract visitors.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Foreign tourists’ Visa spending increased in Mexico City and three other destinations compared with the same period in 2025.
El Economista MX published the report on the Visa spending analysis.
- Mexico City
- Foreign tourists’ Visa spending rose 41%.
- Three destinations
- Spending rose about 109% in Pátzcuaro, Oaxaca de Juárez and Puebla.
- Mexico overall
- Foreign visitors’ Visa spending rose 17%.
- Mexico City credit cards
- Visa credit-card purchases rose 52%; debit-card purchases rose 36%.
- Contactless payments
- Use rose 97% in Mexico City and 86% nationally.
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When more tourists arrive, there are also more opportunities for our restaurants, hotels, businesses and the families who depend on tourism
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