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Cancun Among Most Popular Destinations In The World This Summer According To New Study

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Cancun has just been ranked the second-most sought-after beach destination in the world by ForwardKeys, a leading travel trends analytics firm.

A Cancun white-sand beach with waves and water

The trend-setting ranking is a testament to Cancun’s ever-growing popularity as a major global travel hotspot, even during the low season.

With travel numbers exploding this summer, let’s explore the latest insight on Cancun’s remarkable surge in popularity.

A colourful Cancun sign in the busy resort hotspot

Cancun Beaches And All-Inclusives Continue To Attract Record Number Of Visitors 

Summer is one of the busiest times for a number of destinations across the world. And while that’s not typically the case for Cancun, this year, travelers are flocking to the sunny destination in droves in search of beach, sun, and award-winning hospitality.

A new study published by ForwardKeys, a renowned travel analytics company, confirms that trend and ranks Cancun as the second most popular beach destination in the world and the 24th most popular overall.

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The ranking, published annually, uses several critical factors, such as online searches, flight bookings, and hotel reservations, to determine the trendiest hubs for international travel. And based on those factors, Cancun stands out as the most prominent destination in Mexico and the Caribbean.

With a record number of international flights, a booming hotel and resort scene, and a countless variety of top-rated attractions, Cancun regularly ranks as one of the leading global destinations. While metropolises like Bangkok, London, and New York topped the charts this year, Cancun performs impressively, considering its smaller population and blistering summer heat.

When it comes to beach and sun destinations, Cancun is only eclipsed by Palma de Mallorca in Spain, where the high season brings in millions of sun-seeking Europeans. However, Cancun still managed to secure a remarkable second place as the most coveted sunny destination worldwide.

Aerial view of resorts in Cancun and beach

Reflecting on the results of the latest study, Olivier Ponti, ForwardKeys vice-president, said the following: “Caribbean destinations have managed to maintain their popularity in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic.”

And with travel numbers expected to soar to new highs this year, tourists will naturally venture to new destinations beyond the Caribbean. Even so, Cancun is projected to welcome a record number of visitors in 2023, even as other global markets continue to open their doors to tourists.

Travelers landing off the Plane at the Cozumel International Airport

Compared to other global hotspots, Cancun attracts the largest number of travelers in winter, from December to April, when North American tourists flock to the sunny destination in droves to escape frigid northerly temperatures.

That said, this summer is likely to be the busiest on record, with several Mexican Caribbean hotspots reporting occupancy rates of well above 80%. Some of the most coveted destinations this summer include Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Puerto Morelos, and several other Riviera Maya destinations. 

In Playa del Carmen, another major tourist magnet, officials have said that the concept of a distinctively cheaper and more quiet low season no longer applies to the city as it continues to skyrocket in popularity.

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Another sign of the Mexican Caribbean’s soaring popularity comes in the form of blackouts and water supply disruptions, which have affected island destinations like Holbox and Cozumel owing to record demand and high temperatures.

A view of a beach in Holbox with palm trees

The peak of the summer season will occur sometime in mid-July throughout August, when most resorts will be packed. Even so, travelers can find plenty of summer deals – as well as discounts on flights – if they book a last-minute trip.

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