New Mexico Tourism Achieves Unprecedented Growth Surpassing $8.8 Billion In Visitor Spending In 2024

Published on August 22, 2025

The New Mexico tourism assemblage has reached an bonzer milestone by posting grounds nonstop visitant expenditures—\$8.8 cardinal successful 2024—marking nan 3rd consecutive twelvemonth of specified description . This year’s fig surpasses nan 2023 benchmark of \$8.6 cardinal by \$200 cardinal and continues an upward trajectory that has added \$1.4 cardinal successful spending complete nan five-year play ending 2024. Accounting for multipliers associated pinch indirect and induced activity, nan sector’s wide statewide economical effect has precocious to an unprecedented \$12 billion, further establishing tourism arsenic an basal propellant of New Mexico’s wide economical performance.

Record Visitor Numbers Highlight State’s Growing Appeal

The Land of Enchantment attracted an unprecedented 42.6 cardinal visitors successful 2024, marking nan first clip successful history that nan authorities surpassed nan 42 cardinal period successful a azygous almanac year. This fig represents an summation of astir 800,000 visits compared to 2023, reflecting nan increasing entreaty of New Mexico arsenic a destination for cultural, outdoor, and experiential tourism. From nan creator hub of Santa Fe to nan scenic landscapes of Taos and nan unsocial earthy attractions crossed nan state, New Mexico continues to tie travelers seeking some relaxation and adventure.

International Tourism Fuels Economic Expansion

International arrivals to New Mexico jumped 10.4 percent successful 2024, pursuing nan awesome 34 percent maturation recorded successful 2023. While world travelers accounted for 750,000 visits—a smaller stock of full visitation—their economical effect was disproportionately high. International visitors spent an mean of $925 per trip, importantly much than home travelers, who averaged $194 per visit. In total, world tourism contributed $691 cardinal successful visitant spending, reinforcing nan value of world markets to New Mexico’s tourism maturation and economical diversification.

Visitor Spending Drives Broad Economic Benefits

Tourism spending successful New Mexico impacted astir each assemblage of nan system successful 2024. Lodging emerged arsenic nan largest category, pinch travelers investing $2.8 cardinal successful accommodations. Dining and beverage establishments benefited from $2.1 cardinal successful visitant spending, while unit outlets saw $1.4 cardinal successful income generated by tourists. Recreational activities and intermezo drew $1.1 billion, highlighting nan wide-ranging benefits of tourism crossed nan state.

The economical effect of tourism extended beyond businesses, straight benefiting New Mexico residents. Visitor spending generated $839 cardinal successful authorities and section taxes, efficaciously reducing nan mean taxation load connected households by $980. Additionally, nan tourism manufacture supported an estimated 95,212 jobs—more than 8 percent of full employment statewide—providing livelihoods for thousands of New Mexican families.

Tourism arsenic a Pillar of New Mexico’s Economy

The sustained maturation successful visitant numbers and spending underscores nan strategical value of tourism to New Mexico’s wide economical health. Beyond financial contributions, tourism enhances nan state’s taste vitality, supports section businesses, and promotes finance successful infrastructure and organization development. With continued growth, New Mexico is poised to fortify its position arsenic a apical destination for travelers from crossed nan U.S. and astir nan world.

In 2024, a caller grounds for visitant arrivals was confirmed, amplifying New Mexico’s incremental achievements arsenic a magnet for out-of-state travelers. The corresponding surge successful gross was not confined to nan lodging and recreation sectors; retail, emergency work procurement, and nutrient accumulation each knowledgeable cascading superior inflow, underscoring nan interlinked quality of a diversified system to recreation expenditure. Collectively, these metrics show nan state’s sustained marketplace magnetism and a capacity to construe transient patronage into lasting organization enrichment.