Cancun And State Of Quintana Roo Expect 18 Million Tourists By End Of Year

Cancun and the entire state of Quintana Roo expect a staggering 18 million tourists to have visited the region by the end of the year, eclipsing existing records in the process. The state of Quintana Roo – which is home to extremely popular travel destinations such as Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, and several others – has flourished in the past year, building on the successes it saw during the pandemic and going on to break several records throughout the course of the past 12 months.

Despite such a significant number of travelers making their way to the state, the infrastructure has largely held up, and with more traveler-friendly infrastructure projects in the pipeline, the state looks to be paving the way for further success in the future. Here’s a look at how the state of Quintana Roo set a new record for arrivals this year and what the future might bring for the hugely popular travel destination. 

Quintana Roo To Break Records – Information For Travelers
Quintana Roo is looking to end the year on a high note by setting a new record for the total number of travelers and staking its claim as the top destination for travelers in the world right. According to the Secretary for Tourism for Quintana Roo, Bernardo Cueto Riestra, the state looks set to break its existing traveler number records if recent projections are to be believed, with an estimated 18 million travelers expected to have visited the state in total by the year-end.

Amplified by an earlier-than-expected start to the high season last month, traveler numbers to the state have swelled significantly. The secretary stated that with every passing year, the total number of travelers visiting the state during its high season is increasing by 20%, having a significant effect on total traveler numbers and hotel occupation rates in the region, which are already right now.

Hotels in Cancun are expecting an occupancy rate of 80% throughout the month of December, a high total to be earned so early into the high season. Despite having so many accommodation choices, including 75% of all the new rooms built in the country, space is running out in the city, and travelers who didn’t book early are paying the price. Throw in the growing popularity of other destinations, such as Tulum and Holbox, and it’s easy to see why Quintana Roo is setting new records.

As one may expect from a record number of travelers visiting the state, it’s also proved to be a record-breaking year for Cancun Airport. The airport has coped admirably with the swell in the total number of travelers, serving as the starting point for trips not just to Cancun but to the likes of Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, and Bacalar as well. In total, the airport looks as though it will have served a stunning 27 million passengers by the end of the year, breaking its previous record in the process.

Yet it’s not just through the air that travelers are finding their way to Quintana Roo, but on the waves as well. The popular island of Cozumel has shattered its existing cruise totals and is expected to welcome some 3 million cruisegoers by the end of the year – a 340% jump above its record in 2021. A range of major cruise lines has visited the island, such as Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean International.

Whilst the facts and figures around 2022 are impressive, they could be bettered once again next year. Quintana Roo has some impressive infrastructure projects expected to be completed by the end of next year, including the Mayan Train, Tulum Airport, and the Nichupté Bridge, each of which will play a role in enticing travelers to visit and travel within the region.