The American multinational financial services corporation Visa, who also has a division in Mexico, has reported that in 2012, $5.7 billion dollars were spent in Mexico, which is an increase of 16.3% over the previous year.

It was Eduardo Coello, the General Director of Visa Mexico, who spoke about new spending habits in the country by foreigners and also what Mexicans spend abroad.

According to Coello, part of the reasons for the increase in spending is due to Mexican businesses now having electronic payment systems, which is a more convenient for tourists. Most visitors come from the United States, and who had a spending increase of 21% in Mexico.

After the U.S. tourists, others that followed are from Latin American countries like Venezuela, Argentina and Colombia.

Most expenses made were made in retail purchases that totaled to 3.3 billion dollars in this sector. Also, another area where the most purchases were made was in airline tickets.

As far as what Mexican tourists prefer, the VISA report indicated that in 2012 citizens of Mexico chose to visit the United States, Spain and France. In the United States alone, Mexicans spent $2.5 billion dollars.

*With information of Notimex

Brenda.Colon@Sandiegored.com

Omar.Martinez@Sandiegored.com