Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos might be the “most isolated” region of Mexico – “you have to come by air,” notes the managing director of the region’s tourist board, Rodrigo Esponda – but Canadians clearly have no trouble finding the vacation hotspot.
Visiting Toronto this week, Esponda reported that the destination showed significant growth in Canadian market share, rising to 7.6% from 1.6% in 2023 over the year before. And traffic volumes to Los Cabos from carriers such as Air Canada, WestJet, Swoop, and Flair surpassed pre-pandemic 2019 figures. Cumulatively, passenger figures rose over 94% year-over-year compared to 2022, with Canadian traffic to Los Cabos easily surpassing 200,000.
“With a renewed focus on wellness experiences, 2023 proved to be an exceptional year for Los Cabos that saw Canadian travellers embrace us like never before,” said Esponda at a media lunch at the Hazelton Hotel. “We can only look forward to welcoming more Canadians in what is shaping up to be an equally stellar 2024.”
Esponda notes that close to a third of all Canadian visitors to Los Cabos come via a travel agent, prompting him to call them “the best customers” because they tend to be well informed about where to go, where to eat and what to do.
“And the better informed they are, the more satisfied they are! We really love working with travel agents,” he says.
To that end, Esponda says the tourist board hosts agent FAMs and has an extensive specialist program to help travel advisors keep up with the latest news as well as access to host of comprehensive digital guides covering all aspects of the destination.
Among the many headlines shared by Esponda at the event, included an expansive list of accolades and awards garnered in 2023, proving, he said that Los Cabos’s unique offering of eco-conscious, authentic experiences is “resonating throughout the industry.”
2024
Looking ahead to 2024, Esponda confirmed that key industry partners in Los Cabos will continue to champion wellness and sustainability, carrying the momentum of its “Wellness Champions” campaign forward to demonstrate global leadership in water conservation, recycling, and habitat protection initiatives.
Specifically, The Los Cabos Tourism Board collaborates with and supports organizations dedicated to environmental conservation, such as NIPARAJA, RABEN, and Eco Bac, which focus on protecting our surroundings and the sea turtles that call them home. Additionally, they promote important environmental certifications like Blue Flag and Green Globe, highlighting their commitment to maintaining high environmental standards.
2024 is also expected to see a slate of new luxury resort openings, bringing new options to new sections of the peninsula’s scenic coastline. The Four Seasons Resort and Residences and the highly anticipated Park Hyatt will join the recently opened Grand Velas Boutique Hotel in early 2024, further elevating the level of luxury and comfort for which Los Cabos is known.
Known for its unique and farm-to-table gastronomy, the destination will also receive its own dedicated Michelin guide in May, Esponda revealed.
Four new golf courses also on track to open in the next few years, bring the total number of golf courses to 22.