Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In the first six months of 2023, Puerto Vallarta has seen a remarkable surge in the arrival of cruise ship passengers.
According to data from the National Port System of Puerto Vallarta (ASIPONA), more than 350 thousand passengers have arrived aboard 112 international cruise ships during this period. These figures represent a 40% increase compared to the same period in 2019, and an increase of 78% compared to last year.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2023, an estimated 59 more cruise ships are expected to arrive in Puerto Vallarta, bringing approximately 179,000 passengers. This would make a total of 171 cruises with over 530,000 passengers from January to the end of the year, leading to an estimated economic impact of around 722 million pesos.
“Puerto Vallarta continues to be a very attractive destination and this great increase in the arrival of visitors through cruise ships is just one example that reflects the greatness and leadership of Puerto Vallarta. Cruises, in addition to promoting connectivity with the destination, have proven to be a vital engine for the tourism industry in Jalisco. Each cruise ship arrival generates an economic boost that benefits various sectors, from local commerce to gastronomy and tourist services,” said Vanessa Pérez Lamas, Secretary of Tourism for Jalisco.
The maritime industry accounts for approximately 6% of tourist arrivals in Puerto Vallarta, underscoring its positive impact on attracting tourism to the area.
During the first six months of the year, Puerto Vallarta has welcomed a total of over 3.2 million tourists, marking an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2022.
This influx of visitors has generated an economic impact of 22.3 billion pesos, signifying a 5% increase from the previous year. Additionally, the average hotel occupancy rate has reached an impressive 78%, surpassing the 2022 records by 3 percentage points.
With reports from Contra Línea.