Day of the Dead celebrations face pressure from rising tourism

On October 31, Mexico’s Day of the Dead festivities were underway, with families preparing to welcome the souls of departed relatives, who are believed to return briefly on November 1 and 2. The observance blends pre-Hispanic agricultural beliefs with Catholic traditions adopted after the Spanish conquest in 1521.

Marigolds, candles and painted catrina faces fill streets and markets, while families build home altars with photographs, food, sweets and mezcal. In cemeteries, relatives decorate graves and gather with incense, offerings and songs. Bakeries sell pan de muerto, a traditional bread associated with the holiday.

The celebrations have drawn increasing numbers of international visitors, creating strains in some communities. In San Andrés Mixquic, outside Mexico City, tourists crowd the cemetery alongside families keeping vigil. One local woman recalled being unable to enter to visit her father’s grave because of the crush. City figures put cemetery attendance there at about 100,000 over three days in 2025, around seven times the village’s population.

A researcher who has studied tourism in Mixquic says the cemetery’s limited capacity makes it difficult to rely on individual visitors to behave considerately. She has proposed giving tourists clear guidance before they enter, including reminders that families are mourning and that the cemetery is a sacred place. The city’s tourism guide already urges visitors to seek permission before taking photographs and not to use flash.

On Janitzio, an island in Michoacán whose celebrations have UNESCO cultural heritage recognition, officials barred tourists from the cemetery for the first time this year. The community council cited damage to tombs, crosses and sections of the cemetery wall amid the large crowds. Entry was limited to local families and friends of people buried there. In Mexico City, meanwhile, some residents question the annual catrina parade, which was created for the 2015 film “Spectre” and later became part of the city’s celebrations.