According to Mexico’s tourism secretary Gloria Guevara, more than 2 million retired Americans have opted to make Mexico their home, thanks to the fabulous climate and excellent economic environment.

At last week’s 1^st National Forum for Retired Americans: Expectations and Solutions of Life in Mexico, Guevara discussed all the Mexico has to offer, including business tourism, medical tourism and traditional tourism geared towards rest and relaxation. In addition, she said that the country’s most popular retirement destinations are currently located in Mexico real estate’s coastal communities and northwestern states.

“Retired Americans are a segment of great importance for developing the economy of the nation’s tourist destinations,” she stated, adding that, “More and more Canadians are also opting for retirement in Mexico.”

Also of note, the International Community Foundation has released a series of research reports that examine the trends of U.S. retirees settling in Mexico’s coastal areas. The studies used data collected from surveys, focus groups and interviews that were administered to more than 840 retirees living in Mexico real estate either full or part-time.

Richard Kiy, who is the president of the ICF, stated the studies show that more than 50% of the retired Americans who have chosen to make their home here are under the age of 65 and have chosen Mexico for its luxurious amenities and thriving economic condition. In fact, he says that 34% of study participants have stated that the current global economic recession has not affected their retirement or quality of life.  Also, the fact that Mexico is situated close to the U.S. and Canada plays a deciding factor in the decision process for many retirees, as does the affordability of Mexico real estate, especially in the coastal areas. In addition, an impressive 93% of study participants stated that drug-related violence, which is clustered far from the country’s popular retirement destinations, has not impacted their retirement in any way and was not an important factor in their decision to move to Mexico.