BY GRINGUITO ANÓNIMO
Although Baja California Sur accounts for less than 0.7% of Mexico’s population, it captured an impressive 36.2% of the country’s foreign direct investment in the tourism sector, according to a recent report by a Mexican federal official. Most of this investment comes from Canada, Spain, and the United States, according to the state government.
With $1.04 billion in foreign funds invested in tourism-related businesses, Baja California Sur outpaced second-place Quintana Roo, home to Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and major Mayan archaeological sites, which received $787 million (27.4% of the total). Nayarit, just north of Puerto Vallarta, came in third with $330 million, or 11.5%, according to El Sudcaliforniano, a La Paz-based news outlet.
Over the past three years, BCS welcomed 18 million visitors, with three-quarters of them arriving by air, reports Bien Informado. Fernando Ojeda Aguilar, Mexico’s Subsecretary of Tourism and Economy, credits the success to public-private collaboration. Promotional trusts working in coordination with the private sector have helped make BCS a “national example,” he said.
Los Cabos is the top destination for 75% of BCS’s visitors, thanks to its emphasis on sustainable tourism and its strong connection to nature. According to Bien Informado, 90% of tourists report a high level of satisfaction.
Popular forms of new foreign direct investment include furnished homes and apartments offering hotel-style services. The state government emphasizes its commitment to fostering development that creates employment while preserving environmental sustainability, a stance echoed by the federal government.
“Our commitment is to continue generating favorable conditions for investment that result in development, well-being, and more opportunities for South Californians,” said Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism and Economy, Maribel Collins, referring to residents of Baja California Sur.
She added that BCS is solidifying its role as both a national and international leader in sustainable tourism, investment, and economic growth. The state posted a sizzling annual growth rate of 4.7% in 2024, according to INEGI, Mexico’s National Institute for Statistics and Geography.
By comparison, Mexico grew at 1.2% last year. Canada’s economy expanded by 1.6%, while the United States grew by 2.8%. For 2025, the Bank of Mexico forecasts growth between 0.7 and 2.3%. The Bank of Canada projects growth between 1.5 and 1.8%, while the U.S. Federal Reserve anticipates a 2.4% growth rate.