Mexico and China reactivate air connectivity with new and historic Shenzhen-CDMX route

• The Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués, and the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the People's Republic of China in Mexico, His Excellency. Mr. Zhang Run and from Mexico in China, His Excellency. Mr. Jesús Seade Kuri, participated in the arrival ceremony of this new and historic flight operated by China Southern Airlines.

• Also accompanied by the heads of the AFAC, Miguel Enrique Vallín Osuna; from the GACM, Juan José Padilla Olmos, and from the AICM, José Ramón Rivera Parga; It was highlighted that in this way air connectivity between Mexico and China that was interrupted by the pandemic is reactivated, and it is the longest route in China's history.

• In 2019, Mexico received 167,145 Chinese tourists by air, leaving a tourist expenditure of 167,377,000 dollars, and in 2023, 161,316 tourists arrived from China, with an expenditure of 181,634,000 dollars, which represented a 8.5% more than in 2019.

The Secretary of Tourism, Miguel Torruco Marqués, together with the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Mexico, His Excellency. Mr. Zhang Run; and the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Mexico in the People's Republic of China, His Excellency. Mr. Jesús Seade Kuri, participated in the arrival ceremony of the new and historic Shenzhen-CDMX route, operated by China Southern Airlines, and with which the connectivity between both countries, which was interrupted by the pandemic, is reactivated.

Also accompanied by the general director of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), general pilot aviator DEMA Ret., Miguel Enrique Vallín Osuna; the general director of the Mexico City Airport Group (GACM), admiral, Juan José Padilla Olmos; the general director of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM), Rear Admiral José Ramón Rivera Parga; as well as the regional general manager of the North America and Los Angeles Office of China Southern Airlines, Li Xiang, the head of the Ministry of Tourism (Sectur) highlighted that this is the longest direct international route in the history of China with a journey of 14,147 kilometers from China, surpassing the Guangzhou-New York flight, also operated by China Southern Airlines.

He said that this direct flight leaves from the city of Shenzhen, China, to the Mexico City International Airport, with a stopover on the return flight in Tijuana, and this route will have two weekly frequencies.

China is a key player in international tourism as a source and destination market on a global and regional scale, ranking first in Asia in terms of tourists traveling to Mexico, and is also positioned in the UN Tourism world ranking. , formerly UNWTO, as second place in tourist spending, after the United States, according to 2022 data.

During 2019, Mexico received 167,145 Chinese tourists by air, leaving a tourist expenditure of 167,377,000 dollars, and during the year 2023, 161,316 tourists arrived from China, with an expenditure of 181,634,000 dollars, which which represented 8.5% more than in 2019.

In the first quarter of 2024, 52,140 Chinese tourists arrived in Mexico by air, which represented an increase of 54% compared to 2023, attracting 65 million 754 thousand dollars, 60% above last year.

Torruco Marqués reiterated the efforts that have been made such as promotional tours through the main tourism-emitting countries, through the “Operation Knock on Doors” strategy that has been developed since 2019, always accompanied by state Tourism secretaries, airline managers. and receptive tour operators.

Likewise, he indicated that, in the current administration, 423 international flights to Mexico have been created, a historic number; of which, 60.8% come from North America; 29.1%, from Central, South America and the Caribbean; 9%, from Europe; and 1.2% from Asia.

The above has caused a greater flow of international tourists by air, which in 2023 reached 22,830,000 travelers, meaning a foreign exchange income of around 25,705 million dollars. International tourist consumption in 2022 was 34,337 million dollars, 18.1% of total tourist consumption in Mexico.

The Secretary of Tourism congratulated China Southern Airlines, which currently has more than 3,000 daily flights to 224 destinations in 40 countries around the world, for the opening of this flight, which will further strengthen commercial and tourist ties between Mexico and China, and with whom we will continue working hand in hand to promote tourism in Mexico.

For his part, the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Mexico, His Excellency. Mr. Zhang Run, celebrated the opening of the first direct flight between China and Mexico after the pandemic. “This would not be done without the joint efforts of the government departments of Foreign Affairs, Tourism and Civil Aviation of Mexico,” he said.

Together with the head of Sectur, he welcomed the first Chinese tourists and businessmen, as well as Mexicans who work and live in China, and specified that this direct flight has important meanings, such as promoting economic, commercial and tourist exchanges between China and Mexico.

He commented that this flight will provide more facilities for companies to invest in Mexico, and it is also the first dual-use route, for passengers and cargo. It also facilitates personnel exchanges between China and Latin America.

In turn, the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador of Mexico in the People's Republic of China, His Excellency. Mr. Jesús Seade Kuri, mentioned that this historical route has a strong bond between cultures, economies and peoples, reiterating the strength and ambition that defines the friendship between Mexico and China.

In addition, he commented that the extraordinary city of Shenzhen is the source of the largest and most important companies in the technology industry. He noted that this marks a new era strengthened by air connectivity.

Meanwhile, the general director of the Federal Civil Aviation Agency (AFAC), Miguel Enrique Vallín Osuna, said that air transport plays a decisive role because it is the fastest and safest means guaranteeing the flow of tourism and commerce; and that it is the fruit of the work that is carried out in a coordinated manner between authorities and businessmen.