For Americans, the most popular international travel destination – by far – is Mexico, a fact that this commercial from last spring incorrectly, but conveniently, refutes.
If we are to believe the claims made in this Ogilvy-made commercial, which is hard to do (see above), there are a handful of people in Wharton, Texas who do not want to vacation in Mexico.
Perhaps the Whartonites depicted in the commercial do not know about the glorious beaches, culinary delights and friendly people of Mexico. Or the Whartonites are willing participants in the making of a commercial.
You decide.
Fact: Americans Love to Travel to Mexico
A grand total of 35 million Americans traveled to Mexico in 2017, up 12.4 percent from 2016, with steady gains since 2012, according to the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office.
By comparison, fewer than 16 million went to Europe and just over 14 million went to Canada.
Historically, the United States has been the main market for foreign tourists to Mexico, accounting for six out of every 10 international visitors, while Canada remains the second.
A Strong Brand Stance
According to CNN, this isn’t the first time AeroMexico has addressed political issues in its commercials.
In 2016, the company released an ad entitled “Fronteras” (Spanish for “Borders”) that featured moody black-and-white shots of children pressed up against walls and chain-link fences.
AeroMexico is part of the SkyTeam alliance, whose other members include Air France, Delta Air Lines and KLM.
The airline also produces traditional travel videos that showcase some its most popular destinations.
In related news, approximately one million American citizens live in Mexico today, and growing numbers of Americans are retiring in Mexico.
