Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco — Puerto Vallarta remains the leading Mexican city in its population group in the 2026 Urban Competitiveness Index published by the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO), reinforcing the destination’s appeal for tourism, investment, and year-round hospitality jobs.
The IMCO index evaluates 72 metropolitan areas on their ability to attract and retain talent and investment. In the group of cities with 500,000 to one million residents, Puerto Vallarta ranked first, while Guadalajara placed second among cities with more than one million residents and Ocotlán ranked third among smaller cities. Together, the results made Jalisco the only state with three cities in the top three of their respective categories.
For visitors, the ranking is another signal that the destination’s tourism infrastructure continues to perform strongly. IMCO highlighted Puerto Vallarta’s 73.38% hotel occupancy, 2.73% GDP growth, and strong local revenue collection, along with the highest perceived safety level in its category. The city’s visitor economy is anchored by its beaches, dining, service sector, and walkable core; travelers planning a trip can start with PuertoVallarta.net’s Puerto Vallarta overview and nearby restaurant guide.
State economic officials said the rankings help give businesses confidence to invest beyond Guadalajara, showing that Puerto Vallarta is not only a beach destination but also a competitive regional economy with strong hospitality, services, and international visibility.
