The Riviera Nayarit, a magnet for tourism investment
- This destination has attracted 103,324 billion pesos in Foreign Direct Tourism Investment (FDIT) for the state of Nayarit with 15 hotel projects, both new and under development, taking it to the top of the country’s rankings.
The Riviera Nayarit continues to position itself as a world-class destination, and its leadership in Mexico in attracting tourism investment is proof positive. According to the Ministry of Tourism of the Federal Government (SECTUR), total tourism investment in the first quarter of 2020 reached 103,324 million pesos.
Accordingly, the state of Nayarit—home to the Riviera Nayarit tourism corridor—tops the rankings, which include other tourist destinations such as Baja California Sur, Campeche, Mexico City, and Yucatán.
The above-mentioned Foreign Direct Tourism Investment (FDIT) is distributed among 15 hotel projects, new and under development, backed by international brands such as Apple Leisure Group, Marriott International, Grupo Vidanta, Iberostar, and Auberge Resorts Collection, among others. 
“Right now, we have absolute investor confidence, and the excellent handling of the pandemic by the Destination’s tourism industry has had a lot to do with this,” said Marc Murphy, managing director of the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).
Murphy added that 96.9% of the total FDI in the entire state comes from its primary investor markets, including the United States, Canada, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
“The Riviera Nayarit remains committed to being a key Destination in attracting national and international travelers by strengthening its hotel and tourism offer in collaboration with top domestic and international brands. We have demonstrated that we are an eclectic, versatile, and interesting beach destination for investors and visitors.”
TOURISM PROJECTS
The following new and developing projects are part of the 2019-2025 Tourism Development Plan:
2021:
+ Secrets® Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort (278 rooms) and Dreams® Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resort (363 rooms) are scheduled to open July 1.
+ Iberostar Grand, the Iberostar brand’s second property in the destination, will be in Litibú and will have 300 rooms, with an investment of close to US$80 million. It will open in December of this year.
+ Grupo Vidanta plans to open the first Cirque du Soleil theme park in Mexico this year (Stage 1).
2022:
+ Rosewood Resort & Spa will begin construction work on the Mandarina complex, home to the recently opened One&Only Mandarina.
+ The Ritz-Carlton Reserve Riviera Nayarit, located in Costa Canuva, Fonatur’s Integrally Planned Center (CIP, by its acronym in Spanish), will feature 110 luxury rooms, suites, and private villas with ocean views.
+ Susurros del Corazón, Auberge Resorts Collection’s ultra-luxury property consists of 59 residential villas designed as “beachside bungalows” with a distinct boho-chic influence.
2023:
+ The Costa Canuva CIP is a luxury development project with five new resorts, including the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts—the first Fairmont-branded hotel in the region—, 2,500 beachfront residential units, and a golf course designed by Lorena Ochoa and Greg Norman.
+ Delta by Marriott, the brand’s first all-inclusive hotel in Latin America, has 117 rooms, increasing to 300 rooms in 2023. Marriott International has plans for four more projects: Westin and Ritz Carlton this year, Marriott, and Autograph Collection (in 2025) bringing an additional 1,440 rooms to the destination.
+ Cirque du Soleil theme park, stage 2.
2025:
+ Cirque du Soleil Theme Park stage 3 is expected to be completed.
MORE INFO:
From 2015 to 2019, Foreign Direct Tourism Investment (FDIT) in Nayarit accounted for 59.22% of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). However, in 2020, that number represented only 8.39% of the entity’s total investments due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The FDIT had recovered by the first quarter of 2021, reaching 42.21% of the total investments in Nayarit.
The Riviera Nayarit is a safe destination. Our hotels, restaurants, and tourist establishments follow all the health protocols established by the Federal Government’s Ministry of Health and operate at the allowed capacities. Access to the beaches is limited. Be a responsible tourist: wear your mask and keep your distance.
