The second puente, or long weekend, of the year brought higher than expected visitor numbers to Oaxaca and its three main tourist destinations.
Celebrated last weekend, the puente marked the birth of former President Benito Juárez García on March 21, 1806.
Overall figures for the state show that revenue was 271 million pesos (US $14.6 million), with an average hotel occupancy rate of 76%.
There were a total of 63,352 national and foreign visitors to Puerto Escondido, Huatulco and Oaxaca city during the three-day-long holiday from March 17 to 19.
When compared to the same puente in 2022, occupancy rates registered an increase of 7%, while the number of tourists rose by 16%. In terms of economic spillover, the growth was 13%, or more than 31 million pesos.
Puerto Escondido reported occupancy rates of more than 63%, the arrival of 15,505 people and revenue of 49 million pesos.
When compared to last year’s puente, Puerto saw a 6% higher hotel occupancy, 14% more visitors and revenue up by 15%, amounting to 6.5 million pesos.
In Huatulco, the occupancy rate was 83% with the arrival of 21,220 tourists, representing 122 million pesos in revenue.
This destination saw a year-on-year increase of just over 1% in occupancy rates, 12% in the number of visitors and just under 3% in revenue, or 3.1 million.
Occupancy rates in Oaxaca city were 76%, with the arrival of 26,627 people, and revenue was estimated at 99 million pesos. The capital saw an increase of 12% in occupancy, 21% in visitors, and 21 million pesos more in revenue.
The state tourism ministry’s expectations for the puente were exceeded, as it originally expected 252 million pesos in revenue, 70% average hotel occupancy and 57,648 tourists.
With reports by Central Q
