Reports suggest that some state tourism secretaries in Mexico are pressing the federal government to introduce Covid-related restrictions on international visitors entering the country.
These could include showing proof of a negative Covid test taken prior to arrival, or proof of a full vaccination regime. Despite recording almost 3.5 million cases of Covid-19 and 260,000 deaths during the pandemic, Mexico is one of the few countries in the world that has refused to place any entry restrictions on foreign visitors.
However, officials in several states that are dependent on tourism, including Quintana Roo (home to Cancun), have expressed concerns that transmission rates in the third wave of the pandemic are increasing rather than falling, in contrast to the national data provided by the federal Health Ministry.
To ensure that vital tourist dollars don’t dry up, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has been keen to welcome visitors to Mexico without any restrictions. This relaxed policy has led to a surge in U.S. tourism to Mexican coastal resorts over the summer months, with many flight routes to popular destinations returning to their pre-pandemic levels.