Stats: North American Tourism Up 5% in Riviera Nayarit

Travel to Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit is continuing to grow: according to the latest statistics from the destination’s marketing organization, it welcomed nearly half a million North American travelers in the first half of 2019, representing a five percent year-over-year increase.

From January to June 2019, Riviera Nayarit welcomed 244,692 American tourists and 191,402 Canadians a 4.4 percent and 5.8 percent increase over 2018, officials said. Thus far, tourism has contributed over $785 million in revenue for the destination, of which $649 million came from international tourists.

Riviera Nayarit’s southern region of Bahia de Banderas maintained an average hotel occupancy rate of 82.4 percent with an average low density occupation rate of 2.44 guests per room. Average occupancy rates at four- and five-star properties also saw an increase, according to the latest stats.

According to Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention & Visitors Bureau, the increase comes after what was already one of the destination’s strongest years to date in 2018. “We are seeing an increase in not only the average occupancy rates at our properties, but also in the rates at which those rooms are being sold, which signifies a positive impact on the local economy as we attract higher spending travelers,” Murphy said.

Beyond the upscale accommodations Riviera Nayarit offers luxury travelers, officials said that an additional factor that has supported the destination’s growth is the area’s ranking among the safest in the country. From January to June 2019, Riviera Nayarit reported some of the lowest crime rates in Mexico, according to data collected by the Executive Secretariat of the Public Security System (Secretario Ejecutivo del Sistema de Seguridad Publica).  

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