State surpasses previous visitation record by 1.8 million trips

 SANTA FE, NM – New Mexico set a visitation record in 2022 with an estimated total of 40.8 million trips, surpassing the previous record of 39 million trips set in 2021.

Of the estimated 40.8 million trips to New Mexico in 2022, 16.7 million were overnight trips, representing a 5.8 percent increase from 2021.

One of the biggest shifts in type of travel for 2022 was the increased share of business travel. Roughly 9 percent of all overnight trips to New Mexico in 2022 were for the purpose of business travel. In 2021, 5 percent of all overnight trips were for the purpose of business travel.

“There are many reasons to be excited about the news from the 2022 visitation report, especially as we continue to see strong growth in leisure travel complemented by encouraging trends in business travel,” said Acting Cabinet Secretary Lancing Adams. “With record visitation and a noticeable increase in business travel, the New Mexico Tourism Department is in a strong position to continue delivering on our mission to grow New Mexico’s economy through tourism.”

Trips to New Mexico in 2022 more frequently included cultural and outdoor activities compared to the U.S. average. According to the report, 60 percent of all trips to New Mexico included an outdoor activity whereas the U.S. average was 48 percent. For cultural activities, 49 percent of trips to New Mexico included an activity in that category while the U.S. average was 29 percent.

The report also indicated that the type of spending that occur during many of the trips to New Mexico in 2022 help the state’s local business ecosystem. Overnight trips to New Mexico in 2022 more frequently included souvenir and boutique shopping compared to the U.S. average. Additionally, dining during trips to New Mexico more frequently occurred at local restaurants compared to the U.S. average.

Read the full report here.