Authorities and businessmen agree to work on actions that facilitate the entry of cruise passengers to Mexico

Before authorities from the Secretaries of the Interior (Segob), the Navy, as well as the National Institute of Migration (INM), and businessmen in the sector, the head of the Secretary of Tourism (Sectur) highlighted that the ports of our country are one of the main arrival destinations for cruise passengers worldwide, so it is necessary to find the mechanisms that allow easier transit for visitors arriving via cruise ship.

He indicated that, in 2022, 7 million 75 thousand cruise passengers arrived in Mexico; which represented an economic benefit of 542.7 million dollars, and an average expense of excursionists on cruise ships that amounted to 76.7 dollars.

He pointed out that, in the first half of 2023, 4 million 969 thousand cruise passengers arrived in Mexico; This is 6.3% more than what was captured in the same period of 2019, the year before the pandemic; and foreign currency income from cruise ship excursionists amounted to 407.9 million dollars; surpassing with 25.9% the amount raised in the same period of 2019.

Torruco Marqués detailed the actions undertaken by the working group made up of the agency under his charge, and the Ministries of the Interior; Of Foreign Affairs; of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation; and of the Public Function; that resulted in the modification of Article 35 of the Migration Law, to allow the use of automated technological tools for the surveillance of entry and exit to the national territory, to facilitate the entry of international tourists by air to Mexico, and that work is being done to launch in the 10 main airports in Mexico that receive 95% of international tourists.

In this vein, the Secretary of Tourism emphasized the importance of agreeing on the actions that unlock the obstacles faced by cruise passengers in the ports of Mexico, so that our country reaffirms its leadership in this area.

He reiterated that these actions, together with the development of new tourist products that meet the demands of a more informed traveler, translates into greater foreign currency collection, for the benefit of the local population, in compliance with the instructions of President Andrés Manuel López. Obrador, to make tourism a tool for social reconciliation.

Through a nourished and purposeful dialogue, the authorities and businessmen expressed their full willingness to work together, and thus determine which are the processes that can be modified in order to allow a more agile entry to cruise passengers, and at the same time guarantee the security of access to our country by this route.

They agreed that Mexico is a significant destination for tourists who travel on cruise ships, especially from the United States, our main issuing market; For this reason, the authorities of the branch promised to review the immigration policies for cruise passengers to review the procedures that can be simplified, as well as rely more on digital technological tools.

For their part, the representatives of the shipping business sector thanked the authorities for their willingness and openness to address their concerns, and thus reaffirm Mexico's important place in the arrival of cruise passengers worldwide; To this end, they agreed to follow up through work groups in which the issues related to the easy entry of cruise ship excursionists to Mexico are resolved promptly.

The Undersecretary of Tourism, Humberto Hernández Haddad; the head of the Immigration Policy, Registration and Identity Unit of the Ministry of the Interior, Rocío González Higuera; the Executive Director of Maritime-Port Strategic Planning of the Secretary of the Navy, Diana Elena Portilla Romero; the Director of Airports and Seaports of the National Institute of Migration, Vice Admiral Miguel Idelfonso Amézaga Ramírez; and the General Director of Customs Attention and International Affairs of the National Customs Agency of Mexico, Claudia Ávila Connelly; among other authorities.

On behalf of the shipping companies, the president of the Mexican Association of Companies for the Attention of Tourist Cruises (AMEPACT), José Arturo Musi Ganem; from the Florida Caribbean Cruises Association (FCCA), its president, Adam Ceserano, and the executive director, Michele Paige; the Senior Vice President of Port Development and Construction of Norwegian Cruise Line, Juan Kuryla; the Vice President of Port Services of the Royal Caribbean Group, Jaime Castillo; Disney Cruise Line Port Operations and Development Manager Ralph Dahlgren; Carnival Cruise Line Vice President of Port Operations David Candib; MSC Cruises Senior Vice President of Port Operations and Government Relations, North America and the Caribbean, Albino Di Lorenzo; Vice President of Itinerary Planning, Virgin Voyages Destinations and Government Affairs, Juan Trescastro; among others.