Mexico boosts tourism research to become the fifth most visited country in the world
From September 1 to 5, the Congress on Applied Research in Tourism (CIAT) 2025 was held at the University of the Caribbean in Cancun, a key space for generating and transferring knowledge for the benefit of the tourism sector
Representing the Secretary of Tourism of the Government of Mexico, Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, the Director General of Tourism Professionalization and Competitiveness, Mariana del Carmen Díaz y Maxil, highlighted the importance of tourism research in achieving, as part of Plan Mexico, one of the major goals for 2030: becoming the fifth most visited country in the world.
“Mexico, and the tourism sector in particular, is a breeding ground for researchers who generate ideas, solutions, and proposals for fairer, more responsible, and more innovative tourism.”
This was stated at the 2025 Congress on Applied Tourism Research (CIAT), which took place from September 1 to 5 at the University of the Caribbean in Cancún, Quintana Roo.
Díaz and Maxil emphasized that this Congress constitutes a key space for the generation and transfer of knowledge among the various stakeholders in the tourism sector's value chain, in order to promote economic development that respects local ecosystems and cultures.
She noted that, unlike previous editions, CIAT 2025 significantly expanded its academic and practical scope by integrating 16 lines of research, including: tourism and community; accessible tourism and inclusion; climate change, sustainability, and tourism; gender and tourism; and technologies and innovation in tourism.
He emphasized that the event surpassed previous years, with a historic turnout of 1,748 attendees from 29 states, 40 international participants, and 95 higher education institutions, including 10 foreign ones.
He added that a total of 96 presentations were submitted, representing a 160 percent increase compared to 2024, with the participation of 35 national educational institutions and 7 international ones from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay.
Additionally, 15 specialized books were presented and will be added to the collection of the Tourism Documentation Center (CEDOC) of the Ministry of Tourism. A panel of experts was also held, bringing together, for the first time, the public, private, and academic sectors to analyze the challenges and opportunities of tourism research and its application in decision-making.
The Congress incorporated milestone innovations, including ten free training workshops to strengthen skills; the integration of the state Tourism Secretariat into the Organizing Committee; a hop-on hop-off bus tour courtesy of Grupo ADO; an artisan market featuring local producers; the inaugural cultural presentation by the Municipal Folkloric Ballet Company; the launch of the website www.seminariodeturismo.com; and a strategic alliance with Despegar to provide discounts on lodging and transportation.
The Director General of Tourism Professionalization and Competitiveness expressed her gratitude for the support of Governor Mara Lezama; the State Secretary of Tourism, Bernardo Cueto; the Rector of the University of the Caribbean, Xóchitl Carmona Bareño; and the academic team of the Department of Sustainable Tourism, Gastronomy, and Hospitality, whose commitment made this academic event possible.
“Scientific research applied to tourism allows us to better understand the sector's challenges and opportunities and offers tools for making evidence-based decisions, which are essential for moving toward a development model that integrates communities, respects the environment, and preserves our cultural heritage,” he concluded.
Source: SECTUR.