Puebla Tourism Awards and Visitor Growth, Digi Mart USA News (Puebla, Mexico): The cultural, natural and gastronomic richness of the state of Puebla, along with the talent of those who make tourism a source of well-being, was recognized with four Ángel del Turismo awards. The eleventh edition of the awards left Mexico City for the first time and was held in the city of Puebla.
The state currently ranks fourth nationally among the most-visited destinations and has 320 tourist experiences. Fidel Ovando Zavala, president of the Ángel del Turismo awards, acknowledged the state government’s support for one of the most democratic economic sectors because of its ability to distribute economic benefits among thousands of families.
Ovando Zavala said the awards have presence in 17 countries. In this edition, they received 900 nominations, from which 60 nominees and 20 winners emerged, and four of the honored projects belong to Puebla.
He also noted that the state has exceptional connectivity and tourism heritage, and stands out among national destinations despite having no beaches.
Tourism Development Secretary Carla López-Malo Villalón welcomed the ceremony and recognized the commitment of service providers whose work allows domestic and international visitors to discover the state’s attractions. She stressed that the tourism value chain includes hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, transportation companies, markets, guides and community experiences that create opportunities across the state’s regions.
López-Malo Villalón said: “These awards mean great pride to keep working, because Puebla is the heartbeat of Mexico and will host the Tianguis Turístico 2027.”
According to tourism indicators she reported, Puebla received 14 million visitors in 2025, a 5 percent increase over the same period of the previous year. The economic impact reached 16 billion pesos, a 5.6 percent increase over last year.
Hotel occupancy stood at 51.64 percent, with an average stay of 1.86 nights. Tourist arrivals grew 3 percent, with 5 million 225 thousand visitors, while passenger traffic at the airport rose 31 percent, with 580 thousand new passengers.
Among the honored projects is Cabañas Tzahuinco, in Huauchinango, which won in the Community and Rural Tourism category. Its representative, Antonia Aguilar Torres, said the recognition represents a great responsibility to maintain a proposal that integrates lodging, gastronomy and culture, with direct benefits for families in the region.
The lodging is located in a protected natural area, where visitors can enjoy kayaking, contact with nature and traditional dishes under sustainable practices.
La Casa Colibrí, in Cuetzalan, received the award for Best Mexican Gastronomic Experience. Chef Miguel Ayala said the project promotes fair wages, equitable purchases from local producers and new job opportunities for traditional cooks.
He also highlighted environmental initiatives, including recycling used cooking oil and fair payment for farm products. Traditional cook Miriam Aguilar expressed pride in preserving recipes and knowledge inherited from her mother and grandmothers, using regional ingredients such as quelites, xocoyoli and chilayotl.
The Banyan Tree Puebla hotel received the award for Best Hotel, recognizing the quality of its services and its contribution to the state’s lodging offer. The four awards highlight the work of communities, traditional cooks, entrepreneurs and service providers who preserve Puebla’s roots and turn the state’s cultural and natural wealth into opportunities for development and well-being.
