Civitatis, the leading online distribution platform for guided tours, activities and excursions in Spanish in 160 countries around the world, highlights the significant economic impact of Spanish-speaking tourists on local economies and the immense growth potential when Mexican travelers adopt digital payment methods.
Spanish, the second most spoken native language in the world, has 750 million speakers worldwide, making it the second most spoken native language in the world, behind Mandarin and ahead of English. Mexico leads the way with 126 million native Spanish speakers.
In 2023 alone, Mexico recorded a staggering 46 million departures, underscoring the immense influence of the Spanish-speaking market, particularly the Mexican segment, on global travel. Recent data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), an autonomous agency of the Mexican government dedicated to coordinating the country's National Statistical and Geographic Information System, reveals a substantial increase in international travel by Mexican residents. In May 2024, 5,360,549 Mexican residents traveled abroad, representing a 30% increase compared to May 2023.
For its part, Civitatis' internal statistics report significant growth in the number of Mexicans traveling abroad, with an 85% increase in travelers from January to May 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. This growth exceeds the national average and indicates a strong preference for European destinations, such as Italy, Spain, France and the United Kingdom, over destinations such as the United States or Colombia.
According to INEGI, Mexican travelers who traveled abroad spent a total of $895.6 million, reflecting a 21.5% increase over the previous year. The average expenditure per trip also saw an increase, with Mexican travelers spending an average of $167.08 per trip. According to Civitatis, the average expenditure per activity and person has increased by more than 10% in 2024. This increase underlines the growing economic impact of Mexican tourists on the local economies of their preferred destinations.
Juan Rosselló, Country Manager for Civitatis Mexico and Business Development for the US and Central America, says: “The growing number of Mexican travelers and their purchasing power represent a significant opportunity for the global tourism industry. By understanding their payment preferences and travel behaviors, companies can better serve this valuable market segment. Encouraging the adoption of digital payment methods will not only improve the travel experience for Mexican tourists, but will also unlock significant growth potential for the local economies of the destinations they choose.”
An analysis by Fiserv (a global financial technology and payments company with solutions for banking, global commerce, merchant acquiring, billing and payments, and point of sale) highlights the importance of knowing the payment preferences among Mexican tourists. 100% of Mexicans still prefer cash as a payment method, and 47% use it for daily or low-value expenses, but they also widely use debit and credit cards (85% and 66%, respectively). Digital payment methods, although currently used less, with only 34% preferring them, represent an important growth opportunity due to their convenience and security.
Rosselló comments: "The field of digital payments in Mexico is growing annually, and we could further boost this development with specialized and secure technology that guarantees safe and fast transactions, thus improving the variety of payment methods. As more Mexicans adopt digital payment methods, the potential for economic growth within the tourism sector increases significantly."
“Ensuring that payments are protected and processed without delay is crucial to fostering long-term relationships with banking and financial institutions. An omnichannel payment acceptance model allows businesses to evolve and cater to the diverse needs of travelers. As digital payment adoption increases, so does the potential for significant growth in tourism revenues.”
Source: Civitatis.