RIVIERA NAYARIT, Mexico — This resort area on Mexico’s Pacific Coast saw another increase in domestic and international visitors in 2013.

Last year, Riviera Nayarit welcomed a total of 2,389,408 visitors spending over $1.6 billion. This included a 7% increase in Canadian travellers and a 2% increase in U.S. travellers.

In 2012, 2,369,683 travellers visited Riviera Nayarit and spent a total of $1.1 billion. According to TravelStyles LLC, the popularity of Riviera Nayarit as a destination for Canadians and Americans is attributed to its affordability and value. Riviera Nayarit offers a year-round tropical climate and 192 miles of swimmable beaches coupled with distinctive local history and rich indigenous culture, a wide range of outdoor activities and luxury resorts with professional and welcoming service.

In addition, the destination is easily accessible from most major airport hubs in the U.S. and Canada.

Travel to Riviera Nayarit among Canadians is highest from British Columbia, comprising 35% of the Canadian market. This is followed by Alberta (28%), Quebec (15%), Ontario (11%) and Manitoba (8%).

“We expect tourism to increase even more in 2014 since Huffington Post, Frommer’s and Oyster have all voted Riviera Nayarit as one of the top destinations to visit in 2014,” says Marc Murphy, Managing Director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Travel and tourism represents one of the most important sectors of our economy, increasing jobs, revenue and facilities throughout the state of Nayarit.”

Growth is also supported by the airlines that are adding new routes into Puerto Vallarta Airport (PVR) from Calgary, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg.

Building on this momentum, 2014 is already proving to be a solid year for tourism. In the month of January, 140,018 people visited the destination, which is an increase of about 6% compared to 2013.

For more information, visit rivieranayarit.com.