Mexico recorded 10 million 717 thousand passengers transported on domestic and international flights during January of this year, representing a 5.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

This was reported by the head of Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (Sectur), Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, who noted that of the total number of tourists: 5 million 75 thousand were on domestic flights, while 5 million 642 thousand traveled on international flights.

According to information from the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), the official mentioned that 5 million 75 thousand people were transported on domestic flights, which is 5.5 percent more than in 2024 and 27.2 percent more compared to the same period in 2019.

She also highlighted that the airlines with the highest number of passengers in January 2025 were VivaAerobus and Volaris, which together transported 3 million 674 thousand people, 5.3 percent and 84.6 percent more than in 2024 and 2019, respectively.

Rodríguez Zamora pointed out that 5 million 642 thousand people were transported on international flights, which is 5.5 percent more than in 2024 and 27.2 percent more compared to the same period in 2019.

Similarly, she specified that the main Mexican airlines transported these international tourists during the first 31 days of 2025 were Aeroméxico and Volaris, which moved 1 million 292 thousand travelers, 8.3 percent more than in 2024 and 49.7 percent more than in 2019.

In light of this, the Secretary of Tourism emphasized the importance of aviation as an indisputable pillar of a multiplying sector like tourism. Due to helping bring tourists to new destinations, experiences, diversifying the country's offerings and increasing the positive economic spillover directly impacting Mexicans.

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The head of Mexico’s Ministry of Tourism (Sectur), Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, announced that in 2024, Tourism Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) increased by 129.5 percent compared to 2019, which amounts to an additional 2,870.9 million dollars compared to that period.

The official specified that the regions that attracted the largest flow of Tourism FDI last year were Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo, and Nayarit.

Based on Foreign Direct Investment Records from the Ministry of Economy, Rodríguez Mora reported that this also represents an increase compared to 2023, when an investment of 2,869.5 million dollars was recorded.

She highlighted that the direct investment in furnished apartments and houses with hotel services amounted to 1,942.7 million dollars during 2024, while hotels with other integrated services totaled 798.3 million dollars. Together, these make up 95.5 percent of the total Tourism FDI.

Rodríguez Zamora emphasized that the entities that attracted the largest flow of FDI last year were Baja California Sur with 1,038.6 million dollars (36.2 percent of the total), Quintana Roo with 786.9 million dollars (27.4 percent of the total), and Nayarit with 330.1 million dollars (11.5 percent of the total).

She added that from 1999 to 2024, a total of 35,597.8 million dollars in Tourism FDI was captured, equivalent to 4.7 percent of the total Foreign Direct Investment in Mexico for that period.

Mexico is one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide. According to 2025 data from the World Tourism Organization, Mexico ranks sixth on a list of 15 countries, highlighting that it receives 38.3 million travelers annually. The country's gastronomy, culture, natural landscapes, history, and beaches, among other things, are a rich cultural and natural diversity that tourists find irresistible.

The Secretary of Tourism commented that the arrival of foreign capital is clear proof of the confidence international investors have in Mexico. It also facilitates the creation of modern and sustainable infrastructure in the tourism industry, which in turn drives the generation of jobs that improve the quality of life for Mexicans.

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President Claudia Sheinbaum called on Mexican nationals living in the United States to write letters to the U.S. government, explaining the impact and potential consequences of the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on Mexico, which, she said, will end up harming American consumers even more.

“For now, I think [immigrants] can send letters to the U.S. government and their congresspeople, talking about the impact that tariffs have on the United States and Mexico, explaining to people what this 25 percent tariff is,” she said.

Sheinbaum made these remarks during her morning press conference at the National Palace, where she pointed out that Mexico is now the United States' main trading partner. "That is, a very important part of what Americans consume is produced here, particularly automobiles," she stated.

She explained that this exportation is linked to a commercial and productive integration.

“This doesn’t mean that complete cars are manufactured here and then exported to the United States, but auto parts are made here, then sent to the U.S., and then return… and then they go to assembly plants, either here or in the U.S. itself.”

“There is a very important economic integration that has been developed over the past 40 years, and particularly in the recent period, after the pandemic, as many companies that were in China decided to come to Mexico to set up here, or existing companies in Mexico decided to expand their capabilities.”

She clarified that this is called the re-shoring of companies.

The president explained that the increase in Mexico’s exports to the U.S. is due to commercial integration, and the idea that it only generates jobs in Mexico is incorrect, as it creates jobs on both sides of the border. 

Sheinbaum emphasized that with a 25 percent tax on all Mexican exports, regardless of the product, “it means that what is produced here will cost 25 percent more when it goes to the U.S. If we impose the same tax in return, it will cost another 25 percent to bring it back and send it again, which will increase product prices.”

And while it is true that U.S. President Donald Trump has said that tariffs will make all transport vehicle and auto parts factories move to the U.S., it is not so easy, as production costs in the U.S. are higher, and relocating these companies takes time.

“Products cannot be moved in a day, and their manufacturing will cause a price increase for the consumer. So, on the contrary, we should be promoting greater economic integration that allows us to compete with Asia, because together we are stronger, not separated.”

She also added that using the trafficking of fentanyl as the justification for imposing the 25 percent tax “does not hold water,” given the results from the Mexican government on the matter.

She reiterated that it must be considered that fentanyl consumption in the U.S. does not only come from Mexico, as it has been suggested, and that the drug’s precursors enter through U.S. ports. 

“It is also produced, sold, and distributed in the United States. Who does it? Most of them are criminal groups, including many Americans,” she said.

The president clarified that Mexico is not responsible for the opioid consumption in the U.S., “each side must take its share of responsibility. We will always collaborate, as I have said, we don’t want illegal fentanyl to reach anywhere.”

In this regard, she highlighted efforts that have been made in both public health and in dealing with all the crimes committed due to drug trafficking.

She pointed out that this week, around Thursday, she will have a call with President Trump, but a date is still to be determined. However, she said that if the imposition of tariffs continues, which was unilaterally imposed by the U.S. government, it will create a trade war between the two countries, as Mexico will also respond with taxes in order to protect both national and foreign companies operating in the country.

“We will never close ourselves to dialogue; on the contrary, the doors are always open, but we also have to make our own decisions to protect national and foreign industries in Mexico and protect our people. We don’t want to enter a trade war, no one does. That only hurts the people,” she concluded.

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Yesterday the U.S. government, after a 30-day pause, unilaterally decided to impose a 25% tariff on Mexican exports. This occurred despite the trade agreement signed by President Trump himself in his first term in office and even though during this period of time, during these 30 days, there were strong actions taken against organized crime and fentanyl trafficking, as well as bilateral security and trade meetings, in which major cooperation agreements were reached between the two countries.

On the evening of March 3, last night, the White House issued an offensive, defamatory, and unsubstantiated statement concerning the Mexican Government that we categorically and thoroughly reject and condemn.

Since the government I represent took office on October 1, 2024, we have worked and delivered results in the field of security. For example, in the case of fentanyl trafficking, the figures of the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) show that seizures of fentanyl in the United States coming from Mexico decreased 50% from October 2024 to January 2025.

Other results, in these five months of our administration, are the following: 6,998 firearms seized, 75% of which come from the United States, along with 121.4 tons of drugs, including 1,260 kilograms and more than 1.33 million fentanyl pills. A total of 329 clandestine methamphetamine labs have been dismantled and a historic 26.4 tons of cocaine have been seized in maritime operations. A total of 13,858 suspects were arrested for high-impact crimes and 29 prisoners, accused of serious crimes involving violence and drug trafficking, were recently transferred to the United States for the benefit of the security of both countries. This has allowed for a 15% reduction in intentional homicides in Mexico between October 2024 and February 2025.

Therefore, we are emphatic. There is no motive, reason or justification that supports this decision that will affect our peoples and nations. We have said it in different ways: cooperation and coordination, yes; subordination, interventionism, no. Mexico is respected, we are equal nations. For humanitarian reasons we are collaborating to prevent the trafficking of illegal drugs to the United States, but as we have stated on multiple occasions, the government of that country must also take responsibility for attending to the opioid consumption crisis that has caused so many deaths in the United States. It is a major public health problem that they must address. They must also act against the criminal groups that illegally smuggle fentanyl precursors through their ports and airports, as well as the criminals who illegally produce, distribute, and sells fentanyl and other drugs in their country, poisoning their inhabitants.

CPB data from 2024 published by the Cato Institute in Washington reveals that 80 percent of those arrested at U.S. ports of entry for fentanyl trafficking between 2019 and 2024, were U.S. citizens. The U.S. Sentencing Commission even reports that 81.9% of those prosecuted for drug trafficking are U.S. nationals. On January 8 of this year, the U.S. Department of Justice acknowledged the serious problem of arms trafficking from the United States to Mexico. 74% of the high-powered weapons seized in Mexico come illegally from the United States. 

It is time for each country to assume our commitment. In the United States, the opioid consumption crisis that has emerged began with the irresponsible approval of drugs by the FDA. A lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company in the United States revealed that the approval of the first opioid drug that was massively sold and promoted was based on falsified information for the FDA's approval. 

Coordination between both nations is necessary to address the phenomenon of violence and drug trafficking, but always based on respect.

I want to make it clear today that we will always seek a negotiated solution, as we have proposed, within the framework of respect for our sovereignty. But the unilateral decision taken by the United States affects national and foreign companies operating in Mexico and affects our people. That is why we have decided to respond with tariff and non-tariff measures that I will publicly announce next Sunday.

In no way do we seek to initiate an economic or commercial confrontation, which unfortunately and regrettably is the opposite of what we should be doing, that is, further integrating our economies in response to the economic and commercial progress of other regions. But, it is inconceivable that we not consider the damage that will be caused both to the population and companies in the United States by the increase in the prices of goods produced in Mexico, as well as the damage that will be caused by halting the creation of jobs in both countries.

No one wins in this situation; on the contrary, it affects the people we represent.

I would like to remind Mexicans that for the past six years we have based our growth on strengthening the domestic market, creating jobs through public investment, increasing the minimum wage, and the Well-Being Programs. In addition, we recently presented Plan Mexico to strengthen investment in the domestic market.

We were able to rise to the occasion in the unfortunate times of sadness and desolation caused by the pandemic when the economy collapsed as never before in the country's modern history. In two years we got back on our feet. We have a strong economy and above all an empowered, conscious people, who have become the country’s main political force. We will continue to seek dialogue to find an alternative based on arguments and rationality.

I call on the people of Mexico, all of us, to face this challenge together. To remain united. I would like to reiterate that now is the time to defend Mexico and its sovereignty. We must be attentive, calm, and cool-headed; our people and our beloved nation are very strong and powerful. I would like to invite Mexicans to an informational assembly in the Zócalo square of Mexico City next Sunday at noon, to share with you the actions we will be undertaking. And together we will face this challenge.

Proudly, we are a free and sovereign country. Together we will move forward.

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