The state’s tourism industry rebounded from the effects of the Covid pandemic with force during the Christmas-New Year’s holiday period, welcoming close to 29% more tourists than it did in 2021.
From Dec. 16 to Jan. 8, Oaxaca greeted 348,572 tourists, representing an estimated economic benefit of 1.4 billion pesos (US $72.8 million), according to state Tourism Ministry (Sectur) figures.
Compared to the 2021 season, this year saw an increase in revenue of 28%, or 379 million pesos.
In terms of arrivals, 99,711 more people visited the state at the end of 2022, at a time when measures against Covid-19 were relaxed and the conditions were deemed fit to resume large-scale activities, even as the country entered its sixth wave of contagion.
The figures translate into an estimated 67% hotel room occupancy rate on average for the three main tourist destinations in the state: Puerto Escondido, Huatulco and Oaxaca city.
In Puerto Escondido, average occupancy was 63% with a total of 89,514 visitors, a year-on-year increase of almost 17%.
In terms of revenue, the holidays brought in 243 million pesos, an increase of 19%.
The average occupancy rate in Huatulco was 79%, where visitor numbers totaled 88,916 people, an increase of 28%.
Revenues reached 694 million pesos, an increase of 48%.
In the city of Oaxaca, average occupancy was 61%. Visitor numbers rose 35% to 170,141.
Revenue was 430 million pesos, 31% more than in 2021.
State figures show that almost 4% of all visitors were foreigners, 3,520 of whom chose Puerto Escondido, 5,696 opted for Huatulco, and 4,690 stayed in the capital.
With reports by El Imparcial
