Quintana Roo consolidates its position as a global leader and makes a strong commitment to Latin America in a key year for tourism

What is your opinion on Quintana Roo's participation as a guest destination at ANATO 2026?

ANATO, along with other major regional gatherings, is one of the most important tourism events in Latin America. Simply being present is significant, but participating as a guest destination is even more so, especially since countries typically hold that role.

We arrived at a very favorable time for Latin America. Colombia is one of our main source markets, and after some immigration difficulties in previous years, we are now seeing a recovery with more frequent flights and higher occupancy rates. Argentina is experiencing impressive growth, Brazil is also showing a significant rebound with the implementation of the electronic visa, and we continue to strengthen our presence in the region.

We are also adjusting our marketing strategy for Latin America, replicating a model that is already working in the United States and Canada: maintaining a permanent presence in key markets such as Argentina, Colombia, and Brazil, and keeping in direct contact with operators and business partners. The dynamism of the Mexican Caribbean demands close proximity and constant responsiveness.

The destination's hotel growth is one of the most impressive in the world. How does that translate into numbers?

Today, Quintana Roo boasts 140,000 hotel rooms. To put that in perspective, we are the second-largest hotel destination in the world, second only to Las Vegas, which has 152,000 rooms. We have more hotel rooms than cities like Paris, Madrid, or New York.

We receive over 20 million tourists a year. If we were a country, we would rank 19th among the most visited in the world. This scale compels us to constantly innovate and maintain very high quality standards.

Connectivity is also a key factor in that leadership.

Undoubtedly. Cancun Airport is the third most important for American travelers flying outside the country. Only Toronto and London receive more passengers from the United States, partly due to the corporate component. Cancun is the third most popular destination.

This connectivity is a huge strategic advantage. It positions us as a natural gateway to the Mexican Caribbean and, in many cases, as a hub for other destinations.

How will the 2026 World Cup impact the destination?

This is an extraordinary opportunity. Historically, when there's a World Cup, it usually affects occupancy rates in some source markets because attention is focused on the event or the host country. This time, the opposite is happening: Mexico will be hosting.

Cancun has organically become a gateway to the World Cup. It's the only airport connecting to all 16 host cities. We also have direct flights from Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, as well as from the Czech Republic, Poland, Italy, Spain, Germany, and France.

Tourists are going to be on the move, and it's hard to imagine them passing through Cancún without staying a few days for their vacation. The impact will be very positive, both in terms of connectivity and combined stays.

What are the main guidelines for the remainder of the year?

One of the biggest global challenges remains aircraft availability. Deliveries continue to be limited, and several destinations are competing for new routes and frequencies. That's why events like Routes Americas will be crucial for further strengthening connectivity.

In parallel, we participate in strategic trade fairs like ITB Berlin and hold specific meetings with tour operators in Brazil. The outlook there is very encouraging: currently, between 800 and 1,000 electronic visas are being issued daily, which anticipates a strong recovery in the Brazilian market. And if there's one thing that has historically attracted Brazilian travelers, it's the Caribbean, particularly Cancún.

Leadership implies responsibility. When you're number one, there will always be competition and questions, but that also compels us to continue growing, innovating, and consolidating our position as a global benchmark in tourism.