Mexico City, May 21 (IANS/EFE): Economic activity associated with tourism grew 4 percent in 2012 compared with the year before, Mexico's INEGI statistics service said.
Spending by foreign and domestic tourists increased by 4.7 percent last year.
In the fourth quarter of 2012, tourism activity topped the same period in 2011 by 4 percent, INEGI said Monday.
By segments, spending by domestic tourists rose 4.8 percent, while foreigners' outlay dropped 1.5 percent.
Tourism contributes close to 9 percent of Mexico's GDP, trails only oil exports and remittances as a source of hard currency, and provides direct employment for 2.5 million people.
Mexico welcomed 23 million international tourists last year, had 178 million domestic tourists and generated total revenues of more than $11 billion.