The charter programs to Mexico from tour operators became year-round

Mexico in 2018 recorded an increase of Russian tourist traffic by 92%, becoming the “breakthrough of the year” in the Caribbean region. Tour operators extend their charter program to Cancun for the summer, preserving the winter frequencies. As a result, prices for summer Mexico have seriously decreased. 

According to the official statistics of the Department of Migration Affairs of Mexico, in 2018, 52,781 Russian residents visited the country. This is 92.3% more than in 2017 (27,449 people). The main volume of Russian arrivals was provided by the charter programs from Moscow to Cancun of ANEX Tour and PEGAS Touristik tour operators. Cancun airport hosted 75% of all tourist arrivals from Russia to Mexico. 

The growth of the Russian tourist traffic was particularly noted in the last quarter of 2018. So, if in October-December 2017, 11,182 tourists from Russia arrived in Mexico, then for the same period in 2018 there were already 19,773 tourists - or 77% more. 

Recall that in the beginning of the winter season, in the fourth quarter of 2018, tour operators increased the volume of tourists on charter flights to Cancun. PEGAS Touristik increased the number of seats by 50%, performing 3 flights a month. ANEX Tour launched additional flight to Cancun with business class seats from the end of 2018. 

In total, based on the frequency of flights and capacities, both tour operators have transported about 15 thousand tourists to Mexico for the last three months of 2018.  

After the New Year holidays, in the second half of January 2019, Mexico, due to seasonal lowering of demand, showed a significant decline in average prices. As for the minimum prices, the tour operators with charter programs made it possible at the end of January to fly to a 5* hotel in Cancun on "all inclusive" basis even for 80 thousand Rubles (1,068 Euros) for two persons. By early February, demand has stabilized and exceeds the level of last year, market players say.