Puerto Vallarta is poised for an exciting winter tourism season, with projections from the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust forecasting an increase in both visitor numbers and economic impact. Starting this winter, the destination expects to welcome around 7 million passengers, supported by an expanded flight schedule that particularly boosts international arrivals.
Luis Villaseñor Nolasco, director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust, highlighted that larger aircraft and increased airline capacity are playing a key role in accommodating more tourists. “Many airlines have already transitioned to larger planes, like the Airbus 3 with 220 seats, compared to the previous 189-seat aircraft. This allows us to bring in a greater number of tourists,” he explained. These changes are expected to result in a 7 to 10 percent boost to the local economy.
Expectations are particularly high among wholesalers and airlines, with Canadian travelers anticipated to increase as the winter weather sets in. The arrival of “snowbirds” from Canada traditionally surges with the first snowfall, creating a strong demand for Puerto Vallarta’s warm coastlines and activities.
To meet this growing demand, Sunwing Airlines will launch a new weekly route in December from Victoria, Canada, to Puerto Vallarta, adding approximately 700 new passengers from British Columbia each month. Additional flights from Canada have also been announced, with WestJet introducing new routes and Air Transat adding an extra frequency to its Montreal-Puerto Vallarta service from February to March 2025.
After a strong 2023, when Puerto Vallarta recorded 6.8 million air visitors, this winter season’s enhancements aim to push the number to an impressive 7 million. With expanded air travel options and more frequent flights, Puerto Vallarta is well on track for a successful tourism season, offering travelers unparalleled access to its scenic and sunny escape.
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