The monarchs visited Mexico’s pavilion at FITUR, hosted in Madrid this year, following their inauguration speech. They were greeted by Mexico’s Tourism Minister Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, Mexico’s Ambassador to Spain Quirino Ordaz, as well as other Mexican officials and cultural representatives.

For the fair’s 46th edition, Mexico has been featured as FITUR’s partner country, presenting a historic program that includes tourist destinations in all 32 states. Boasting the largest stand space in the America’s section, Mexico aims to speak to a global tourism market by emphasizing the essence of Mexican culture.

During her Thursday morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum referred to the monarch’s visit to Mexico’s pavilion as “symbolic.”

“They were accompanied by representatives of the Indigenous communities. It’s symbolic,” Sheinbaum said. “It seems symbolic that the king and queen of Spain have come to recognize the Indigenous peoples of today [at FITUR] … We will insist on the importance of this recognition, because it heals wounds.”

The monarchs greeted the large Mexican delegation on a stage decorated for the occasion and reportedly showed great interest in Mexico’s proposals during a friendly conversation with Mexican officials.

The Spanish royals have not had contact with Mexican officials since 2019, when former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador demanded an apology in 2019, for abuses faced by Indigenous peoples during the conquest of Tenochtitlán in 1521, preceding  to Spanish colonization.

Spain “vigorously” rejected the request. While economic, social and cultural ties between the two countries run deep, political ties turned frosty after the falling out.

Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Rodríguez said she appreciated the royal’s appearance at Mexico’s pavilion amidst the tragedy that recently hit the country after a passenger train derailed in the province of Córdoba, killing dozens of people.

“I was deeply grateful that they came to visit us in spite of this situation,” she said. Rodríguez told the king and queen about the role the Indigenous communities play in Mexico’s tourism industry, she said, and how tourism can be “a source of prosperity for communities.”

With reports from El Heraldo de México and La Jornada

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Perfect Day Mexico involves the construction of a 80-hectare water park across from the Mahahual cruise ship pier in southern Quintana Roo. The initial plan calls for an operational capacity of up to 21,000 cruise ship tourists per day, in addition to 2,500 employees for the park’s operation.

Activists, however, warned that Mahahual has serious drainage and sewage management problems, and they worry that a mega-park would overload the town’s already saturated infrastructure.

The complaints prompted the non-profit Defending the Right to a Healthy Environment (DMAS) to file an amparo lawsuit (a legal action or writ in Mexico used to protect individuals from violations of their human rights) against the Perfect Day Project. 

In the lawsuit, DMAS challenges recent land use modifications to the municipal Urban Development Program (PDU), including the removal of roads and other restrictions to allow the construction of the water park planned by Royal Caribbean in Mahahual.

Antonella Vázquez Cavedón, head of DMAS, told newspaper El Economista that the modifications to the PDU are a clear violation of the Human Settlements Law.

She explained that given the project’s significance for the entire community, authorities were obliged to carry out a public consultation process to ensure that citizens understand the project’s scope and consequences to the urban growth of Mahahual.

According to Vázquez, Royal Caribbean’s interests prevailed over the interests of the community.

“The mayor presented the ruling to the city council and in just a few days, they granted [Royal Caribbean] every request,” she said.

Currently, an incomplete water treatment plant leaks raw sewage into Mahahual’s coastal mangrove forest and the nearby reef, Vázquez said.

Royal Caribbean has promised to clean up the area contaminated by the sewage leaks, but activists say the project’s operation will further strain the community’s already poor infrastructure and drainage system.

The company has also recognized the presence of endangered species like the ocelot, margay and white turtle. According to the Environmental Impact Statement (MIA), mitigation measures will be undertaken to “reduce stress and ensure the physical integrity of the individuals.”

With reports from El Economista

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Regarded as one of the world’s largest fairs in the tourism industry, the event will take place from Jan. 21 to 25 at IFEMA Madrid, with three days dedicated to professionals (21-23) and two days for the general public (24-25).

Cuando México se une, no hay quien nos pare. 🇲🇽🔥

Colores, música, naturaleza y mucha fiesta recorren España, @fitur_madrid y se roban todas las miradas. 🌎💃🎶

Nuestro ambiente se siente, se vive y se contagia. El mundo entero sabe que #MéxicoEstáDeModa. 🇲🇽✨#Fitur pic.twitter.com/qTMTJ8uDKZ

— Josefina Rodríguez Zamora (@josefinarodzam) January 21, 2026

As partner country, Mexico is presenting a comprehensive program that will showcase the essence of Mexicanidad to the global tourism market, both at the fair’s venue and at iconic venues around the city. 

Boasting the largest pavilion in the fair’s Americas section, all 32 Mexican states are represented at FITUR  with a program highlighting the promotion of emerging destinations, outdoor and nature-based experiences, pueblos mágicos and cultural and culinary experiences. 

Present at FITUR this year are Mexico’s artisans, entrepreneurs and tourist operators who aim to position the country as a unified destination, rather than a collection of isolated regions. 

As part of the promotional activities during the five-day event, Mexico’s stand will host cultural performances such as the Guelaguetza of Oaxaca and the Danza de los Viejitos of Michoacán, in addition to a shop selling Mexican handicrafts. Other activities will promote the 2026 FIFA World Cup, taking place in Mexico, Canada and the United States. 

Mexican authorities have said that the country’s partnership with FITUR is a strategic opportunity to strengthen Mexico’s image before an international audience, in line with the current administration’s goal of positioning Mexico among the five most-visited destinations in the world by 2040.

“Today, we are aiming for more,” Mexican ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz Coppel, said. “We don’t just want more tourists: we want more investment, more spending, greater connectivity and a strengthened sector. This forum will allow us to share the vision of the Ministry of Tourism within a Mexican government that is committed to tourism as a generator of economic benefits, with one key word: shared prosperity,” he told reporters. 

Overall, FITUR features nine pavilions, 10,000 companies from 161 countries — of which 111 have official representation — and 967 main exhibitors. 

Beyond the pavilion

As part of Mexico’s promotional activities beyond IFEMA, different parts of Madrid are showcasing Mexican culture through art installations. 

One such display is located at the Puerta del Sol, one of the city’s most visited areas. In this public plaza, the partner countries have installed a monumental sculpture of Madrid’s symbol, the Bear and the Madroño, featuring a design that blends Mexican and Spanish heritage.

Traditionally crafted from bronze, the iconic representation of Madrid’s identity has been reinterpreted by Mexican artist César Menchaca. The monument is now adorned with a colorful and intricate design inspired by Huichol art. 

“The Bear and the Strawberry Tree is a profound symbol of Madrid, an emblem that speaks of its history and identity. To be able to engage with it through contemporary art is an honor,” said Menchaca.

Meanwhile, the giant retailer El Corte Inglés on Serrano Street now features a “Ventana a México” (Window to Mexico), a designated space for the promotion and marketing of Mexican handicrafts. 

With reports from Publimetro and Milenio

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According to IMPI, last year it granted 972 patents to Mexican individuals, the highest figure in 30 years and the highest level since comparable records began in 1995. Furthermore, the agency said that 150 patents remained unpaid at the end of the year, which would bring the annual total to 1,112 Mexican patents. 

This figure far exceeds the approximately 700 patents granted by IMPI in 2024, which means an increase of close to 38% year over year. 

IMPI noted that the record number of filings last year responds to public policies that promote innovation, and to the objectives of Plan México, a federal program that seeks to use national patents as a driving force for economic development and technology transfer.

Interestingly, 2024 also saw a record number of patents, revealing a positive trend over the past two years.

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (taking place in Mexico, Canada and the United States), IMPI reported it granted 344 trademark registrations for brands linked to the sporting event. 

On a global scale, IMPI referenced data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which ranks Mexico 11th for the total number of patents granted, 11th for total trademark registrations granted, 14th for trademark applications submitted, and 7th for registered trademarks in force.

Finally, the agency said it published 14 declarations of protection for geographical indications during 2025, with the aim of promoting and exporting Mexican products. Some of these included Maya chewing gum from Quintana Roo and Campeche, Chignahuapan Christmas ornaments, and wines from the Querétaro wine region, among others.

As regards Artificial Intelligence (AI) filings, Mexico stands out regionally.  

According to the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index, Mexico is leading in the number of AI patents among Latin American countries. Together with Brazil, these two countries account for approximately 95% of AI patent filings in the region.

Mexico News Daily

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According to a decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation, the new coins will be manufactured with a mix of metal alloys in order to optimize minting costs, adapt to metal availability, ensure continuity in the production of national currency and strengthen security systems. 

The new 10-peso coin design will feature the national coat of arms with the inscription “Estados Unidos Mexicanos,” while the reverse will show the image of Tonatiuh, taken from the Sun Stone. The ring will also display the symbol “$10,” the mint mark “Mo,” and the inscription “diez pesos” (10 pesos).

Meanwhile, the 20-peso coin will be dodecagonal. The obverse will feature the same inscription “Estados Unidos Mexicanos,” and the back will depict the Temple of Kukulkán at Chichén Itzá. It will also feature the symbol “$20,” the face value “veinte pesos” (20 pesos), the year of minting and the mint mark of the Mexican Coin House. 

As a security feature, the reverse of the coin, within its center, will have the microtext “Chichén Itzá, Temple of Kukulkán — Cultural Heritage” and an image with the number 20. 

The introduction of these new designs does not imply the immediate withdrawal of the coins currently in circulation, which will retain their legal tender status and be accepted throughout the country until the monetary authority determines otherwise. 

In addition to changes to the 10 and 20-peso coins, a new generation of 1, 2 and 5-peso coins made of bronze-coated steel is being prepared as part of the Mexican Coin House’s 2025-2030 program. 

These changes follow the withdrawal of the blue 20-peso banknote bearing the image of President Benito Juárez last year. Its successor is a green-and-reddish horizontally oriented 20-peso bill from the “G family,” which was introduced in 2021 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Mexican independence.

With reports from La Jornada, Uno TV and Milenio

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Experts say this trend could be explained by a weakening economy and loss of household purchasing power, inflation in tourism goods and services (hotels, transportation, food) and security problems in some destinations and on some roads.

In an advisory released Monday, Sectur disputed an article published Sunday in the newspaper El Universal that claimed hotels received 100,000 fewer Mexican tourists between January and October 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

However, Sectur’s own data confirms El Universal’s reporting. According to the ministry’s official DataTur report for October 2025, there were 52.7 million domestic hotel stays between January and October 2025 — 100,000 fewer than the 52.8 million registered during the same period in 2024. This contradicts the agency’s advisory, which claimed 63.09 million domestic tourists for January-October 2025 compared to 62.64 million in 2024.

The discrepancy raises questions about how Sectur is calculating domestic tourism figures. The ministry’s preliminary calculations for January-November also appear inflated, citing 69.58 million in 2025 versus 69.17 million in 2024, figures that don’t align with the trend shown in the official monthly reports (find them here).

Looking at the full year 2024, DataTur recorded 62.9 million domestic hotel stays, down from 65.2 million in 2023 — a decline of 3.5% or 2.3 million fewer domestic tourists. If the January-October 2025 trend holds, with 52.7 million domestic hotel stays versus 52.8 million in the same period of 2024, the full year 2025 would show essentially flat performance at best, representing a modest stabilization after 2024’s decline but remaining well below 2023 levels.

Sectur emphasized in its advisory that traditional hotel occupancy rates don’t constitute the only indicator of tourism activity. The ministry noted that the rise and consolidation of digital accommodation platforms has transformed the sector’s dynamics, capturing a significant market share that must be considered for a comprehensive analysis of tourism activity in the country.

In terms of destinations, Cancún, Mexico City and Puerto Vallarta led in reservation numbers, solidifying their positions as anchor destinations for leisure and urban tourism. Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mérida followed thanks to an offering that attracted business tourism, events and weekend getaways, broadening their appeal to a wider range of travelers.

Meanwhile, the United States remained the main driver of international tourism for Mexicans, with cities like Las Vegas, New York and Orlando topping the list of preferences. 

Across the pond, Madrid came in as the most visited European destination for Mexican travelers, while the Caribbean and South America gained significant ground.  

Within this trend, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, and Cartagena de Indias and Bogotá, in Colombia, stood out for their growth in reservations during 2025.

With reports from El Universal, Tribuna de México and El Porvenir

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The accidental discovery of more than 750 fossilized bones of Ice Age-era megafauna — mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, giant ground sloths and various horse species that disappeared from the Americas before the Spanish arrived with modern breeds — was first revealed more than a year ago. It was the subject of a detailed article in MND last April, which can be read here. 

More recently, however, the find has burst into the public limelight after Luis Espinasa, a biologist from the Marist University in New York and graduate of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), briefed the media on what he called “the largest paleontological deposit identified so far in the Huasteca Potosina region.”

If all goes according to plan, part of the collection will be housed locally in the Huasteco Regional Museum AC, located in Ciudad Valles, the Huasteca’s major city. The rest will remain in the Institute of Geology of the UNAM, where specialized analyses will continue.

According to Espinasa, budget limitations are hampering the full scientific potential of the discovery. Of the 750 bones found, only five have been dated using carbon-14 testing, with results showing the oldest specimen — a saber-toothed tiger — dates back 30,000 years, while the most recent, a bison, is 8,000 years old. The research team is now seeking sponsors to finance pending scientific analyses, including ancient DNA extraction from key specimens like the giant ground sloth, bears, saber-toothed cats and dire wolves.

This cave in San Luis Potosí was hiding Ice Age giants

For safety reasons related to bats, potentially dangerous fungi and steep drops, the exact location of the cave hasn’t been revealed. The site has legal protection and authorization from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).

According to Espinasa, the exploration was originally intended to study blind cavefish, a species adapted to subterranean ecosystems. However, during the expedition, the team located numerous bone fragments that did not belong to present-day fauna.

Espinasa explained that the cave’s mineral conditions fostered an exceptional fossilization process, allowing the remains to be preserved in a remarkable state, uncommon in this type of environment. He added that the discovery will bring more insight into the food chains that existed in the region during the Pleistocene era.

This is not the first time Ice Age-era fossils have been found in San Luis Potosí. In 2015, scientists in Cedral, a small municipality not in the Huasteca but in the dryer altiplano region north of the state capital of San Luis Potosí, found bones of a mammoth and other animals in what was an ancient basin with springs where they had become trapped.

With reports from El Universal, La Jornada de Oriente and Potosí Noticias

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In an announcement made at the Regional Mariachi School in the town of Cocula, Governor Pablo Lemus said the new academic degree intends to honor Jalisco’s status as the cradle of Mexicanidad (Mexicanity), with mariachi representing a cornerstone of the country’s cultural and historical identity.

Jalisco announces a degree in mariachi music

“Here at this mariachi school, we’re going to certify the first-ever bachelor’s degree in mariachi,” Lemus said amid live mariachi music played by students. “Because mariachi comes from Cocula!” 

Cocula is widely accepted as the cradle of the mariachi tradition — which has given rise to the popular saying “De Cocula es el mariachi” (Mariachi comes from Cocula), which Lemus repeated in his announcement. The genre originated in the late 19th century and rapidly grew to become a staple of Mexico’s traditions. 

The academic degree is part of a larger effort by the state to strengthen this genre, which includes a renovation project to beautify the school, provisions for new musical instruments for students, and promotional initiatives designed to get more children and young people interested in mariachi in order to preserve its legacy. 

Preserving an authentic Mexican tradition

In a separate announcement, Jalisco’s Culture Minister Gerardo Asencio said that this degree “reinforces the state’s leadership in traditions that represent an entire country.”

“We’ve designed this program as a response to our interest in safeguarding the traditions that make us all very proud,” Asencio said in a video shared on his social media channels. “Knowledge that was previously transmitted orally will now have academic backing for posterity,” he stated.

The Regional Mariachi School is located in a historic building that previously served as a primary school. Classes are held in the afternoons, and until last summer, it had around 160 students. While most students are from Cocula, many others travel from nearby municipalities such as Tecolotlán or San Martín Hidalgo to study there. 

What the Regional Mariachi School teaches

The curriculum includes instruction for choral groups, vocal ensembles, a children’s choir and instruction in music theory. 

Students aged eight and above can enroll. The most popular musical instruction is in guitar and the violin. 

In addition to operating as a school, the facility offers areas for established mariachis to rehearse. Located just a few steps away from the main plaza, passersby can hear live mariachi music drifting out from the school every morning and afternoon.

With reports from Conciencia Pública, El Occidental

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“The airport has room to build a new Terminal 3 that would be larger than Terminal 1 and 2 combined” Aeroméxico CEO Andrés Conesa Labastida said in a podcast appearance this week. “It would increase capacity from 50 million passengers per year, to some 70 or 75 million.” 

According to Conesa, Terminal 3 would be built adjacent to Terminal 2, which would require relocating Aeromexico’s maintenance and repair workshops. Building it next to Terminal 1 would not be possible, he said, since the site currently houses fuel farms and certain infrastructure that would be difficult to relocate. 

“I hope that this project could be studied, because it will be very good for the city and the country,” Conesa said. 

Conesa added that his proposal must be supplemented in operation by the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) near Mexico City, and the Toluca International Airport in Mexico state, creating a combined capacity of more than 100 million passengers per year in the Valley of Mexico. 

“This would be more than enough for the next decades,” Conesa stated. 

This is not the first time the AICM’s congestion problem has been addressed, and that a third terminal has been proposed. In 2019, Gerardo Ferrando, CEO of the Mexico City Airport Group, announced a master plan for a third terminal was being drawn up and predicted that it would be inaugurated in 2020. At that time he said a fourth terminal was being analyzed as well. 

Even then, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, director of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association, said that a third terminal wouldn’t be enough to solve the AICM’s structural issues. 

“A third terminal would help but it won’t solve the problem,” Oliveira said then. 

During former President Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration (2012-2018), the master plan for a new airport had been approved to be built in Texcoco, near Mexico City, designed by renowned architect Norman Foster. That partially built new airport was canceled and the AIFA was built instead. 

Currently, the AICM is undergoing major renovation works to improve the passenger experience ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place in Mexico, Canada and the United States. 

With reports from A21

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On his social media, the song-and-dance man expressed that he is “so happy” to return to his “beloved Mexico” in March 2026. In that same message, he revealed he would perform in the cities of Querétaro, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Chihuahua, León and Mérida.

One minute: backstage in Bratislava getting ambushed by my son holding the cake and my band playing Happy Birthday.

Next minute: Puerto Rico, cake, hugs, Christmas, soul reset.
Plot twist approved. 🎂✨

Ps. The photo of the baby celebrating his first birthday. Yup, that’s me a… pic.twitter.com/0Am5jmUvCT

— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) December 28, 2025

Martin also announced that before the tour begins he would be performing at the La Paz Carnaval in Baja California Sur, on Feb. 21. 

Here are the dates and venues for the Mexican leg of the tour:

• Querétaro – March 12, Querétaro Racetrack
• Mexico City – March 14, Fray Nano Stadium
• Guadalajara – March 18, Pan American Stadium
• Monterrey – March 20, Walmart Park Stadium
• Chihuahua – March 22, Monumental Stadium
• León – March 24, Poliforum Esplanade
• Mérida – March 28, Kukulkán Baseball Park

According to organizers, the show is expected to last an hour and a half and include a live band, backup dancer and large-format visuals. 

Tickets start at 690 pesos (US $38) and reach up to 4,990 pesos (US $279) depending on the city and section selected. Tickets are now available through funticket.mx and at official box offices.

Ricky Martin rose to fame with the Latin pop children’s group Menudo in the ’80s before launching his career as a solo artist, becoming one of the most influential figures of Latin music in the ’90s. 

His album “Vuelve” (1998) and the global success of the English-language album “Ricky Martin” (1999), with singles like “Livin’ la Vida Loca”, established him as one of the singers responsible for the so-called “Latin explosion.”

He has sold more than 70 million albums as a solo artist, and won numerous awards including two Grammy awards. 

With reports from Sin Embargo and Tribuna de México

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