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Travel from Mexico

In 2009, 28 percent of Texas visitors from Mexico had overnight stays in Houston.

Main purpose of travel for Mexican visitors to Houston:

• Visit friends and relatives (38 percent)
• Business (24 percent)
• Shopping (20 percent)
• General vacation (9 percent)
• Getaway weekend (9 percent)
• Look at real estate (1 percent)

Thirty nine percent of visitors from Mexico stay in a hotel or motel, and 53 percent stay with family and friends. Mexican visitors spend an average of 4.3 nights in Houston.

The average Mexican traveler spends $1,357.08 per trip in Houston, including:

• $519 on shopping
• $230.50 on transportation
• $164.91 on food and beverage
• $146.27 on accommodations
• $135.28 on gas
• $104.19 on entertainment

Top activities for Mexican visitors to Houston include:

• Shopping (80 percent)
• Visit museums (49 percent)
• Visit historic site (45 percent)
• Dining out (43 percent)
• Attend festival/fair, etc. (35 percent)
• Touring/sightseeing (34 percent)
• Nightlife (32 percent)
• Gaming, horse/dog racing (31 percent)
• Visit amusement/theme park (30 percent)
• Visit beach, lake, river (13 percent)
• Visit spa, resort (7 percent)
• Hike/Bike/etc. (7 percent)
• Attend sporting event (6 percent)
• Attend theater, performing arts (6 percent)
• Browse antique, craft shops (5 percent)
• Visit schools (5 percent)
• Visit medical facility/doctor (4 percent)
• Attend show - boat, home, etc. (4 percent)
• Boating/sailing/kayaking (4 percent)
• Golf (2 percent)

According to the Houston Airport System, 2.95 million passengers traveled between Houston and Mexico in 2008.  This includes pass-throughtraffic at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport.

Sources: Texas Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism/ Research, the Houston Airport System