Near Retiring and the Great Opportunity for Vacation Ownership in Mexico
A Growing Market That’s Already Here
In recent years, Mexico has quietly become one of the world’s most attractive retirement destinations. Today, more than 2 million retirees from the U.S. and Canada have made Mexico their home, drawn by its climate, culture, healthcare, and cost of living. This community alone contributes an estimated $1,500 USD per person per month, resulting in an annual economic impact of over $30 billion dollars for the country.
And this is just the beginning.
The “50+” segment (active adults entering retirement or semi-retirement) is one of the fastest-growing demographics worldwide. In North America alone, there are over 125 million people over the age of 50. Many of them are not looking for traditional retirement: they seek healthy, meaningful lifestyles and flexible ways to enjoy travel, culture, and connection. Mexico, with its robust tourism infrastructure and diverse destinations, is well-positioned to meet this demand.
From Winter Birds to Near Retiring: A Shift in How We Age
For decades, we’ve seen the seasonal flow of “Winter Birds”, retirees who spend part of the year in Mexico to escape the cold. But a more permanent trend is taking shape: “near retiring,” where individuals approaching or entering retirement opt to settle abroad, often with a hybrid lifestyle between their home country and their new destination.
This model is already thriving in other tourism sectors. The cruise industry, for example, has successfully adapted its offerings to meet the expectations of older travelers while focusing on comfort, service, health, community, and curated experiences. Vacation ownership developers in Mexico have a clear opportunity to learn from these strategies and evolve their offerings accordingly.
The AMDETUR–AMAR Alliance: Designing for Longevity
To help developers embrace this opportunity, AMDETUR has partnered with AMAR (Mexican Association for Retirement Assistance), the leading organization in Mexico and Latin America dedicated to the Senior Living Industry and Longevity Economy.
Through this collaboration, we aim to:
- Promote the development of wellness-oriented vacation ownership products and second-home communities tailored to the 50+ generation.
- Guide developers in understanding the lifestyle, health, and service needs of this market.
- Encourage long-term investments in projects that combine tourism, real estate, wellness, and assisted living.
- Position Mexico as the leading destination in Latin America for active retirement tourism.
As AMAR highlights, this is not just about tourism, it’s about creating ecosystems that support longevity, wellness, and purpose-driven living.
The Time to Adapt Is Now
The near retiring market is not a trend, it’s a transformation. At AMDETUR, we believe the future of vacation ownership in Mexico will be shaped by our ability to understand and serve this powerful demographic. By working hand-in-hand with AMAR and learning from global best practices, we can create new experiences that go beyond vacations: Experiences that feel like home, community, and wellness, all in one.
For developers, investors, and tourism leaders, the message is clear: those who invest in longevity today will lead the market tomorrow.
