During 2021, tourism GDP grew above the national GDP, although the levels recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic are still not close. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), last year the tourism GDP grew 12.6%, while the national grew 4.7 percent.
In both cases, they precede falls of 25.4 and 7.9%, respectively, as a result of the health crisis that forced the closure of various economic activities, which implies that the national GDP closed 2021 with a lag of 3.6% compared to its level of 2019, while tourism GDP is still 16% below.
Based on the Quarterly Indicator of the Tourism Gross Domestic Product, in seasonally adjusted figures, between October and December there was an increase of 4.3% in real terms with respect to the previous quarter and the Domestic Tourism Consumption for the same period increased 5.5%, while in their annual comparisons the rises were 19.4 and 23.0 percent.
After the figures were announced last Friday, the Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco, only shared them on his Twitter account and made no comment (this Monday, the official will hold various work meetings on a tour of Cuba ).
For his part, the director of the Anáhuac Tourism Research and Competitiveness Center (Cicotur), Francisco Madrid, said that the recovery trend of tourism activity in Mexico is clear (even with the lack of a plan to accelerate it), but that it must be remembered that the fall of 2020 was enormous, deep.
“If you fall so much, a more or less rapid recovery will come,” he said, highlighting the slow progress of the national component.
The breakdown
The goods component of tourism GDP (suitcases, handicrafts, sunglasses or beachwear) grew 3.6% during the last quarter of 2021, compared to the previous quarter, and in annual comparison it grew 3.3 percent. Meanwhile, services (transport, accommodation, food or entertainment) rose 4.7 and 22.7%, respectively.
Regarding internal tourism consumption, in its internal component (national tourism), the last quarter of last year grew 3.6%, in relation to the previous period, and 9.3% in annual comparison.
The receptive component (international tourists) had better results: it grew 11.5% compared to the previous quarter and 111.7% compared to the year. In the second case, the growth of international tourism was evident, especially from the United States, after the long period of confinement.
Yes, foreign tourism helped, but the problem is that 80% of tourism consumption is made by Mexicans within the country. That is why recovery is not yet reached. Yes, it is good news what we see now with foreigners. According to the latest figures, it is not only the US that is growing but also other markets, mainly European”, added the head of Cicotur.
Domestic tourism consumption, in its domestic component (national tourism), grew 3.6% in the last quarter of last year, in relation to the previous period, and 9.3% in annual comparison.
