The Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Medical Tourism to Mexico. The Case of Tijuana, Baja California (2020-2021)

Abstract

This article reviews the evolution of medical tourism during the COVID-19 crisis, which paralyzed most of the destination cities, as well as the pandemic’s impact on tourists who travelled for medical reasons. The author emphasizes the recovery of a highly competitive destination, well-positioned among U.S. Americans, Tijuana, on the border with San Diego, California, compared to other destinations, one national (Cancún), and the other international (Thailand). Using data from the INEGI-Banxico about international travelers in 2019, 2020, and 2021, statistics from the World Tourism Organization, and interviews with suppliers and leaders of medical clusters, she found that, as other regions closed down, residents from different U.S. cities far from the Mexican border, and even some from distant countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, opted to come to Mexico for medical treatments.