The Confederación Patronal de la República Mexicana (Coparmex) and the Consejo Nacional Empresarial Turístico (CNET) demanded a strategy to improve Mexico’s image.
His request follows last Tuesday’s U.S. travel alert, which included a “terrorism risk” in 30 states, warning that the perception could dampen tourism and hit employment.
Mexico tourism at risk due to U.S. terrorism alert
The business leaders maintained in a joint statement that the mention of “terrorism” by the U.S. authorities does not reflect the reality of the majority of the country.
They pointed out that tourism is an economic pillar and that a deterioration of its reputation would affect visitor arrivals, investment and the operation of thousands of companies in the sector.
“We propose that the Government of Mexico implement an international trade promotion and public relations campaign, accompanied by a crisis management plan that projects a solid, reliable and competitive image of our destinations,” they said.
They also stressed that “protecting Mexico’s image is not only a matter of national pride: it is a commitment to the development, employment and well-being of millions of families.
Formal employment and income at risk
The Mexican employers’ association and CNET emphasized that the impact is not only on large chains.
But in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that represent more than 99% of the businesses in the tourism ecosystem, such as hotels, restaurants, local agencies, carriers and artisans.
A drop in inflows, they warned, would jeopardize operations, formal employment and the income of entire communities.
“Protecting it means shielding against perception risks that, although unfounded, can have real and lasting effects on the economy,” they added.
The organizations called for coordinated operations, investment in surveillance infrastructure, and strengthening of the rule of law to guarantee security for residents and tourists.
They also called for clear messages that distinguish between security challenges and the notion of terrorism “in the international sense of the term”.
Coparmex and CNET reiterated their willingness to collaborate with the authorities and the private sector in a comprehensive communication, promotion and security strategy to preserve the dynamism of tourism and the millions of jobs that depend on it.
Relevance of tourism
Buzzy
Terrorism alert puts tourism in Mexico at risk.
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), cited by the agencies, the tourism gross domestic product (GDP) reached 2.5 trillion pesos (about 125 billion dollars) in 2023, equivalent to 8.6% of the national GDP.
The tourism sector also generates 4.9 million jobs, 9.2% of the total.
In June 2025 alone, international visitor arrivals grew 11.5 % annually, and in the first half of the year totaled 23.4 million tourists, 7.3 % more than in 2024.
However, air arrivals fell 2.9 % in the first half of the year, a sign of a slowdown that, they warned, makes it necessary to shield activity against perception risks.
It is essential to protect tourism from any factors that could hinder it, especially from misperceptions that damage its reputation
Coparmex and CNET
