en.Wedoany.com Reported - The 2026 World Cup has brought significant passenger growth to Guadalajara International Airport. In June, the airport recorded an additional 88,800 passengers, a 6% increase compared to the same month last year. This marks the highest passenger traffic month in the airport's history.
Fridman Hirsch, Director of the Jalisco State Tourism Board, stated that June was the month with the highest passenger traffic in Guadalajara Airport's history, an extremely significant figure. According to a statement released by the state tourism board, international passenger traffic increased by 11.5%, and flight operations grew by 8% to 13,930 flights, setting a record for the period.
Mauro Garza Marín, Coordinator General of Economic Growth and Development Strategy for Jalisco, reported alongside the tourism director that direct tourism economic revenue reached 11.5 billion pesos. The state consolidated its international standing through this World Cup, extending benefits to the Guadalajara metropolitan area, Puerto Vallarta, Pueblos Mágicos, and other destinations. The two officials noted that one of the main legacies of the World Cup is the international visibility gained by Jalisco.
Garza Marín emphasized that perceptions of Jalisco have significantly changed since the World Cup ended, with people now talking about the state's exceptional cuisine, wonderful people, and iconic attractions. In terms of media coverage, as of the time of the count, there were 39,700 positive reports about Jalisco nationwide, with an estimated media value of 4 billion pesos. Internationally, there were 5,554 reports with a media value exceeding $1.941 billion, reaching 42.5 million people, and 1.2 million mentions on social media.
Tourism Director Fridman Hirsch explained that the 11.5 billion pesos in revenue corresponds only to direct tourism spending; the total impact of the World Cup will be larger, including indirect effects, induced effects, and benefits generated by other economic sectors. Strategies to expand the event's benefits, such as the Vibra Jalisco venue and Public Viewings, also boosted tourism activities in different areas. Puerto Vallarta hosted over 102,000 participants, while Chapala, Tapalpa, Lagos de Moreno, Mazamitla, and Tequila recorded more than 56,000 visitors. The World Cup's success should not be measured solely by hotel occupancy rates, which reached 62%, about 10 percentage points higher than a normal month, but the average nightly room rate rose from 1,800 pesos to 4,800 pesos, an increase of 180%, directly impacting industry revenue. Fridman Hirsch stated that Guadalajara was the best-performing host city and concluded the event with very positive results.
