Mexico City has broken visitor arrival records, welcoming 17.5 million international travellers from January until October 2019. In 2018, the destination welcomed 14 million international visitors.
Speaking to TTG at WTM London, Paola Felix Diaz, chief executive of the Tourist Board of Promotion for Mexico City, confirmed the destination’s main markets are the US, Canada, Latin America and Europe.
Mexico City will be targeting the UK market for 2020, with a particular focus on millennials and a $1 million marketing budget set side for working with tour operators, on targeted social media campaigns and press and trade fam trips.
The tourism board will “make contact with and select UK travel agents and tour operators” to attend a trip in the first quarter of 2020, confirmed Diaz.
Accessibility is another focus, with Diaz citing the “creation of infrastructure to support travellers with physical disabilities” as a point of action.
Diaz said the city will install ramps across tourist sites and hotels and add taxis with space for wheelchairs.
In addition, new direct flights will be launched from Barcelona to Mexico City by Emirates in December this year; and Mexico City is “focusing on pushing for a daily flight” from London with British Airways.
Next year 14 festivals celebrating “culture and heritage” will be held, including a new festival named Chinelos Day, which will take place in March 2020. A parade featuring 3,000 dancers in traditional costume will take place in the city’s main square.
Speaking about travellers’ security fears around the destination, Diaz claimed 8,000 more police officers are on Mexico City’s streets in 2019 compared to 2018. In particular, the tourism board is “very aware of providing a feeling of security for women and solo female travellers”, she said.