Blanca Alejandra Camargo, professor at the business school of the University of Monterrey: “While these figures are encouraging, it is important to contextualize the success of Mexican tourism with a critical perspective. Historically, 40 to 50 percent of all international visitors to Mexico stay within border cities, with the average trip costing approximately $107 in 2024—significantly lower than the $1,046 spent by tourists who explore the entire country. From 2023 to 2024, border tourist arrivals increased by 17 percent, whereas overall inbound tourists grew by only 1.4 percent, according to official statistics. This indicates that much of the growth stems from border tourists who typically do not contribute substantially to local economies. Government statistics do not account for other important tourist segments, such as digital nomads, expatriates and other ‘invisible’ tourists. Additionally, Mexico’s heavy reliance on U.S. tourists—who represent about 64 percent of all international visitors—poses vulnerabilities when the U.S. government issues travel warnings or other restrictions. To…”