Mérida continues to establish itself as a key tourist destination, achieving significant growth in international tourism. In September, the city's Municipal Tourism Offices reported that they attended to 20,020 visitors, which is a 9.4% increase from the 18,300 visitors recorded in September 2025.
The most notable aspect of this growth is the surge in international visitors. In September, 6,485 international tourists were welcomed, compared to 5,176 the previous year, representing a remarkable increase of 25.3%. This figure marks the highest level of international tourism recorded in the city’s history, surpassing even pre-pandemic numbers. International tourism now accounts for 32.39% of all visitors served by the municipal offices.
Felipe González, the city’s Tourism Delegate, emphasized the importance of these figures, stating that they reflect the success of a year-round tourism promotion strategy implemented by the local government. “These figures allow us to see that all the promotional work Mérida does throughout the year is yielding results. It’s not just about major events or specific moments in the calendar, but a continuous strategy to showcase our city, heritage, culture, and tourism offerings in both national and international markets,” he noted.
González particularly highlighted the growth in international visitors. “Reaching a historic high in September for international tourists served in our offices is fantastic news. We are expanding in strategic markets for Mérida, which means our city is gaining greater recognition beyond our borders.”
Portugal remains the largest source of international visitors, accounting for 19.34% of foreign tourists, followed by the United States at 10.76% and Mexico at 10.13%. Among national visitors, Andalucía leads with 22.41%, followed by the Community of Madrid at 16.64% and Extremadura at 6.42%.
González reiterated that Mérida is continuously working to diversify its tourism markets. “We are present at fairs, professional meetings, promotional actions, and various initiatives that ensure our city is increasingly visible on the national and international tourism map. The data shows that this ongoing effort is paying off.”
Overall, the 20,020 visitors recorded in September make it the second highest month for visitor numbers in the analyzed series, only behind September 2019, which saw 24,756 visitors. González linked these results to Mérida’s ability to maintain a year-round cultural and tourism program. September featured several events, including the Feria y Fiestas de Mérida, the Stone & Music Festival, the Flamenco Festival, Las Noches del Patrimonio, Vespaemérita, EXFILNA 2026, CineBeat, the European Researchers' Night, and Mangafest, along with various activities related to the heritage of Santa Eulalia and religious tourism.
“We have a city rich in heritage, culture, gastronomy, events, sports, and conferences, along with a program that creates reasons to visit Mérida year-round. Our duty as a city council is to continue promoting it and valuing all these resources. These figures indicate that we are on the right path to continued growth, especially in attracting more international visitors to choose Mérida,” concluded González.
