Discover the Top Health Tourism Destination in Mexico

Cancún, a city that annually draws between 20,000 and 25,000 international tourists for cosmetic procedures, is among the top five destinations for medical tourism in Mexico. This sector generates an average of $10,500 per patient, positioning Mexico as the second most popular global destination for health tourism.

Andrés Jurado Viera, president of the Medical Tourism Commission of the Mexican Employers' Confederation (Coparmex), reveals that Cancún hosts up to 25,000 surgeries each year. These include dental work, plastic surgery, bariatric procedures, and orthopedic surgeries, which are in high demand. He notes that 80% of these patients, mainly from the United States and Canada, undergo minor, scheduled surgeries with low risk. They typically stay for an average of 11.3 nights and contribute over $10,500 to the local economy.

Despite the growth in this sector, Jurado Viera emphasizes the need for more promotional efforts. He points out that Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic are currently the largest investors in medical tourism in Latin America. The competition to attract more patients is intense, particularly from countries that have been in this sector for years. However, the Mexican Caribbean has several advantages, including connectivity, hotel infrastructure, services, and internationally certified hospitals.

Currently, Tijuana in Baja California leads the Mexican market in medical tourism due to its extensive experience in the field. However, instead of viewing Tijuana as a competitor, its strategies to increase the number of tourists traveling for medical reasons are being leveraged. Mexico City ranks second, followed by La Paz in Baja California Sur, Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua, and Cancún in Quintana Roo. Guanajuato, despite the violence affecting the state, rounds out the top five. Guadalajara, Monterrey, Querétaro, Matamoros, and Mérida complete the top ten health tourism destinations in Mexico.

In 2020, Mexico was the second most popular destination for medical tourism worldwide, with an estimated 1.4 to 3 million people visiting the country for affordable treatments, according to the sector guidebook, Patients Beyond Borders.