A two-hour drive from the world famous Mexican resort town of Cancun, what was once a sleepy seaside town known for its Mayan history experienced an astronomical spike in popularity over the last two decades — first from celebrities who were being spotted there as far back as the mid-2000s and, a decade later, travel influencers promoting it as the “place to be.”
Interest was quick to trickle down to the general population and, by the end of 2023, an area formerly only accessible by drive got the brand-new Felipe Carrillo Puerto Tulum International Airport (TQO).
The first flights to come in were from Mexican carriers like Aeromexico (GRPAF) , while Delta (DAL) eventually started bringing in international tourists a few months later.
🚨 Don’t miss this amazing Black Friday Move! Get 60% off TheStreet Pro. Act now before it’s gone.😲
Shutterstock
Airline launches new flight to sunny resort town
Another part of Mexico currently seeing soaring tourist interest is located on the country’s opposite coast. Baja California Sur, the northwestern Mexican state and peninsula bordering the San Diego area to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Gulf of California to the east, is best-known for the resort town of Los Cabos.
Sharing the same name as the administrative capital of Bolivia, the Baja California Sur capital of La Paz sees significantly lower tourist numbers, but attracts those looking for pristine beaches along the Sea of Cortez as well as quiet luxury and more interaction with local culture.
Numbers from the local tourism board show that while Los Cabos saw over three million tourists in 2023, more than 600,000 chose to come to La Paz — a record-breaking year for the city while Canadians living in West Coast cities such as Vancouver and Calgary have made up a particularly fast-growing segment of this market.
Amid the growing interest, Alaska Airlines (ALK) started running a new route between LAX and La Paz International Airport (LAP). While the regional airport is served by domestic carriers like Aeromexico, Alaska is currently the only American airline offering direct service to the city from the United States.
More on travel:
- Another National Park just made it more difficult for you to visit
- Delta Air Lines makes a baggage change that travelers will like
- United Airlines passenger incident triggers quick response
New York-based luxury hotel developer Aman Residences is in the process of constructing the new Amanvari Resort slated to open in 2026, while IHG Hotels (ICHGF) opened the doors to the Hotel Indigo La Paz Puerta Cortés at the start of 2024.
Related: An unexpected American city is emerging as a foodie destination
City known for 'rich culture and natural beauty' showing major spike in tourists
"We recently celebrated 35 years of service to Mexico and are proud to connect travelers with the rich culture and natural beauty of the country," Alaska Airlines Vice President of Revenue Management And Network Planning Kirsten Amrine said in a statement when the route was first announced last July.
With the Alaska flight running two or three times a week on an Embraer E175 (ERJ) plane depending on the season, the majority of U.S. tourists coming to the city will arrive either by driving in, taking the two-hour airport shuttle or riding the ferry across the Gulf of California from the rest of mainland Mexico.
This, in turn, is likely to help maintain the small and exclusive feel that initially set off Tulum's popularity and attracts visitors looking for an off-the-beaten-path vibe in other places.
Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocks
