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Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, Paula 

Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa  
 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

Events and Tourism Review                                     
 
December 2022                                                                                                                                          Volume 5 No. 2      
   
 
Challenges for Older Tourists on Public Transportation in Mexico City 

 
Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe 
Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos 
Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez 
José Manuel Quintero Villa 
 
University of Guadalajara, México 
 
Correspondence: areyesu@cucea.udg.mx (A. C. Reyes Uribe) 

 

 
 
 
 
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Recommended Citation 
Reyes Uribe, A. C., Guerra Ávalos, E. A., Guerrero Rodríguez, P. L., & Quintero Villa, J. M. 
(2022). Challenges for Older Tourists on Public Transportation in Mexico City. Events and 
Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51.  
 

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
40 

Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

 

 
 

Abstract 
 
This exploratory paper attempts to understand some challenges for older tourists regarding the 
physical accessibility of public transport. It focuses on Mexico City and its global competitiveness 
as an accessible tourism destination. A review of recent literature and internet sources contributed to 
raising potential challenges involved to offer an accessible public transport service in Mexico City. 
Sources reviewed suggest that two modes of transportation -the subway and the bus rapid transit 
service- were well-equipped with accessible elements, particularly for users with mobility 
limitations. Yet, important challenges not strictly related to the supply of accessible infrastructure 
and services were found, such as a high level of insecurity, harassment, and discrimination. The 
model of public transport management in Mexico City seems to focus on affordable mass 
transportation, based on the utilitarian aspect of public transportation exclusively. The degree of 
satisfaction of users, including tourists, is overlooked. Appropriate development of accessible urban 
tourism, including the supply of public transport, would benefit Mexico City to pursue its 
competitiveness as an accessible tourism destination for older tourists. 
 

Keywords: Public Transport; Older Tourists; Accessibility; Mobility; Mexico City 
 

 
 
 
Introduction 
 

Life expectancy has changed rapidly, as people are expected to live longer; for instance, in 
2019, there were 703 million people over 65 years old in the world, and they are expected to live, on 
average, an additional 17 years longer (United Nations, 2019). The increase in the aging population 
is evident among developed countries, and this tendency is followed closely by developing countries 
(Ritchie & Roser, 2020). Parallel to this demographic change, increasing demand for older adults 
traveling is a trend (Alén et al., 2012; Balderas-Cejudo et al., 2016; Kim et al., 2015). Thus, tourism 
destinations might consider a design of products and services to target this increasing market (Alén 
et al., 2012; WTO, 2016), as aging travelers show a more intensive tourism consumption than 
younger cohorts, they stay away longer, they have a higher frequency of travels and spend more 
money (Balderas-Cejudo et al., 2016). Older adults seem to enjoy visiting large urban cities, and 
among their favorite choices are religious places and historical sites (Musa & Sim, 2010). Traveling 
seems to be a beneficial behavior as it is likely to increase the participation of older adults in 
activities that may improve their quality of life (Kim et al., 2015; Vigolo, 2017). 

There is no consensus on what should define an older adult traveler (Balderas Cejudo et al., 
2016; Nella & Christou, 2016; Pesonen et al., 2015). Nella and Christou  (2016) mention that one 
might consider an older adult using a range from a very low level of 50 to 55 years of age. Similarly, 
Otoo and Kim (2018) mention that the minimum age established to consider an individual as an 
older adult is 50 years, since from this age symptoms of aging are more evident than in previous 
stages, such as graying hair, wrinkles, vision problems and the loss of certain functional abilities. 
However, from a gerontological perspective, an older adult has a chronological age above 65 years, 
which is usually the average age of retirement; thus, many times, a retiree is considered to be in the 
group of older adults (Balderas Cejudo et al., 2016; Pesonen et al., 2015). So, it is difficult to 

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
41 

Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

establish a conceptualization of what an older adult traveler is because this segment is not 
homogeneous (Nella & Christou, 2016; Pesonen et al., 2015), and that is why it is advisable to study 
older travelers through sub-segments that share similar characteristics (Nella & Christou, 2016). For 
this paper, an older tourist is 60 years of age or older. This age has been chosen to match the age 
established by the government/official secondary source of information used in this paper (e.g., 
Escuela Superior de Turismo, 2017; Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019).  

 
Older Travelers Using Public Transportation 
 

Transportation elements are relevant to all population groups, as Fatima and Moridpour 
(2019) explain, transportation is linked to freedom of movement, regardless of rural or urban 
settings, age groups, and reasons for using different types of transportation. In 2007, the World 
Health Organization published an age-friendly guide, that included age-friendly transportation 
aspects to illustrate the specific transportation needs of older adults, such as public transport with 
good connections and well-marked routes and vehicles, transportation for disabled people, transport 
stops and stations conveniently located, well-lit with adequate seating and shelter, and vehicles not 
overcrowded, accessible, and with priority seating (WHO, 2007). The aspects mentioned in this 
guide do not explicitly address the needs of older adult travelers, but they coincide with studies done 
on the accessibility of tourist destinations, which include the needs of older travelers (see WTO, 
2016). 

Older travelers, like other population groups, seek information about the destination to visit, 
including tours, events, weather information, prices, restaurants, places to shop, and the type of local 
transportation available (Pesonen et al., 2015). There is evidence of different preferences in the use 
of transportation by age segment among older adult travelers. For example, Batra (2009) conducted 
a study on the travel experience and behavior of 384 foreign senior travelers in Thailand, including 
the preferred means of transportation. The results showed that participants aged 55 to 64 years 
enjoyed outdoor activities and favored walking, if possible, while those participants in the age group 
of 65 to74 years preferred to use buses as a mode of transportation, and this was like those 
respondents older than 75 years who would choose buses and a tourist guide to visit a tourist site 
(coach tour). 

Also, it has been found that older travelers experience tourist destinations differently from 
younger cohorts –on the hedonic and risk variables– as they highly consider the risk of using 
transportation in the destination (García Lirios, 2021). One important aspect when studying the 
preferences and needs of older travelers is the accessibility of the tourism destination, as this may 
help to guarantee “the use and enjoyment of tourism irrespective of the capabilities, status or 
condition of people.” (WTO, 2016, p. 22). The accessibility of a place might be hampered by 
several barriers, including attitudinal, organizational, architectural, or physical barriers, as well as 
information/communication and technology barriers (Council of Ontario Universities, 2013). The 
beneficiaries of accessible tourism include older adults, individuals with physical, sensory, and 
intellectual disabilities, as well as pregnant women, children, persons with obesity, and those with 
temporary disabilities. Still, it is important to consider that many persons with physical disabilities, 
particularly those related to mobility, are older adults (Rantakokko et al., 2013). Mobility refers to 
the capacity of an individual to move alone and safely from one place to another; however, mobility 
limitations will increase with advancing age, and several physiological changes, such as a decrease 
in muscle strength and balance impairments, will eventually cause disability (Rantakokko et al., 
2013).  

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
42 

Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

This exploratory document attempts to understand the current status regarding the physical 
accessibility of public transport in Mexico City. This document focuses on the global 
competitiveness of this city as an accessible tourism destination for older tourists. A review of 
recent literature and internet sources contributed to raising potential challenges involved to offer an 
accessible public transport service in Mexico City. It should be noted, however, that this research 
effort presents an incomplete picture and constitutes only a preliminary stage on the issues 
concerned. This is an initial step to expand with further empirical research. 
 
Transportation in the Travel Experience  
 

Within the tourism activity, people move around from one place to another and physical 
barriers may affect the tourism experience, including transportation to a destination between 
countries or within a country (in transit transportation). For instance, an international survey 
published by the Travelsat competitive index (2012, as cited in WTO, 2016) showed that 43% of 
tourists with special needs complained regarding their tourism experiences; of those, the main 
complaint was transportation, as 15% of tourists with special needs criticized the offer of 
transportation at the destination and 7% of all tourists also complaint regarding the transportation 
offer. In urban areas, public transportation is likely to be used by tourists, particularly when the 
tourist destination is a big city with traffic congestion and large distances between tourist attractions 
(Le-Klähn et al., 2015; Vigolo, 2017). However, not all public transportation is convenient and 
attractive to tourists. As Vigolo (2017) pointed out, older adults may experience minor disabilities 
due to aging, and when traveling, the transport aspect is relevant for choosing a destination; this is 
particularly true regarding physical accessibility, as it can be a key barrier that may affect the tourist 
experience.  
 
Public Transport Accessibility 
 

The term accessibility is linked to the ability to move (Lättman, Friman & Olsson, 2016) and 
includes moving from one place to another through public transport services that are easy to use; 
these services may also incorporate other factors such as the quality of transit, their utility, and 
travel costs (Verseckienė, Meškauskas & Batarlienė, 2016). People with mobility limitations might 
need walking aids and/or wheelchairs either electric or manual (Sze & Christensen, 2017) and 
physical accessibility is essential for the use of public transport. The literature shows different 
measures for public transport accessibility, and these measures are associated with the type of 
disability. Physical and sensory disabilities are frequently mentioned in the literature, but others can 
also be considered such as those disabilities related to mental and intellectual health (Verseckienė et 
al., 2016). Among the variables that can be measured, Sze and Christensen (2017) provide a list of 
elements focusing on physical access to public transport services, such as elevated platforms for 
loading and unloading of buses, removal of level difference at curbside, and reduction of gap size 
between platforms and bus/trail transit vehicles. Also, several elements may reduce difficulties in 
maneuvering for wheelchair users, such as the reduction of level differences and gradient or ramps 
and the provision of sufficient clear space at the landing of ramps and platforms. Furthermore, 
geospatial information regarding accessible facilities for pre-trip planning should also be considered, 
as this can be useful for those individuals with impaired mobility. 

Similarly, the Ministry of Tourism in Mexico identifies five main elements to evaluate the 
accessibility of public transport in Mexico City, including elements for individuals with sensory and 

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
43 

Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

mobility impairments, as illustrated in Table 1.  
 

Table 1. Elements to Evaluate the Accessibility of Public Transport in Mexico City 
 

Elements Description Main Aspects 
1 The components towards the 

station (from the pedestrian 
crossings to the station) 

Pedestrian crossing mark, ramp or crossing level, 
pedestrian-audible traffic light, bridge or lift 
tunnel, accessible route, public lighting 

2 The station platform Ramp, podo-touch route, touch signal, entrance 
door, support personnel, call button, visual and 
audible information, lighting inside the station, the 
gap between the vehicle floor and the platform 

3 The service operation The service level at peak times and the service 
level in the vehicle 

4 The interior of the vehicle Seats, armrest covers, handrails, and handholds 
5 Modal transfer Accessible route without many stops and with an 

information system and sensory orientation 
Source: Secretaría de Turismo, 2019. 
 
Transport Modes in Mexico City  
 

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, is one of the busiest cities in the world and it is also an 
important tourism destination for domestic travelers. A city of more than 20 million inhabitants 
(Agenda de Competitividad Turística de la Ciudad de México, 2013), of which more than 6.3 
million people commute each day using public and private transport supply (ONU, 2014). This city 
has the most complete network of transport services in the country; it also has the fifth-longest 
underground railway network in the world. Regarding the use of transportation by tourists in 
Mexico City, there is little information available; however, there is evidence that shows that both, 
domestic and international tourists, share transport preferences when using local transportation in 
Mexico City, as they choose the subway and individual taxis mainly; although their arrival 
transportation to the city is different as illustrated in Table 2. Three out of every four visitors of 
national origin arrive in Mexico City by bus. The main mean of local transport is the subway, 
followed by individual taxis. International tourists come mostly from the American continent with 
78% of the total number of visitors. Nine out of ten tourists arrive in Mexico City by plane and they 
usually travel by public transport: subway, individual taxis, and uber (90%) (Escuela Superior de 
Turismo, 2017). 
 
Table 2. Use of Public Transport among Visitors/Tourists 
 

Origin of Visitors Main Arrival Transport Main Local Transport 
National Visitors Bus (73%) 

Other (27%) 
Subway (58%) 
Taxis (17%) 
Other (25%) 

International Visitors Plane (92%) Subway, Taxi, Uber (90%) 

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
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Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

Other (8%) Other (10%) 
Source: Escuela Superior de Turismo, 2017. 

 
In Mexico City, the use of public transport predominates over private (Aguirre Quezada, 

2017; Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019). Although cars represent most vehicles on the road, they 
mobilize only a small number of trips (Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019). That is, around half of the 
population travels every day using public transport, and the other half uses private transportation or 
walks as a mode of transportation (see Figure 1) (Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019). The most common 
form of public transportation is the use of collective taxis known as microbuses with 67.8%, 
followed by the subway 16.8%, individual taxis 9.7%, and metrobus 5.7% (i.e., bus rapid transit 
service) (Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019).  

Although the use of public transport predominates over private, the average time of a trip on 
public transport is higher than that of private transport. A trip in the subway implies 39% more time 
on average than a trip in a private car; this is also true when using collective taxis with 54%, and 
suburban buses with 33% (Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019). The main purpose of those traveling in 
public transportation is to go to work; in second place, people travel to go to school (Islas Rivera, et 
al., 2012). The average travel time is 49 minutes; around 54% of daily trips are over half an hour. 
Equally important is the age range of travelers as most of them are adults between 25 and 59 years 
old. Older adults and children represent a relatively small fraction of the total number of travelers 
(Islas Rivera, et al., 2012). 
 
Figure 1. Preference for the Use of Various Forms of Transport by Local People 
 

 
Source: Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019. 
 
The Accessibility of Public Transport 

Based on the literature review and internet sources, two modes of transportation –The 
subway and the Metrobus (bus rapid transit service)– introduce several elements to improve the 
physical accessibility of users in Mexico City. For instance, the Metrobus stations have mobility 
equipment such as ramps on sidewalks to facilitate access to all stations. Though not all, most 
stations are wheelchair accessible as they offer wheelchair lifts. Regarding other disabilities, the 
stations provide large-print and tactile Braille signs for the blind and visually impaired, an alert 
button for people with disabilities to request help, and audio information to hear the next bus arrival. 
In buses, there are exclusive spaces for wheelchairs, some buses carry wheelchair ramps for easy 
access from the platform to the bus; also, some buses are equipped with visual announcements on 
screens for station arrival and audio information systems to announce the approaching arrival. The 

Type of Transport

Public Transport Private Transport Other (walk, bycicle)

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
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Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

web page also offers a download of maps of accessible stations on the Metrobus service (Metrobus 
CDMX, 2019). 

In the subway network, most stations are equipped with elevators or ramps. A detailed list of 
metro lines is provided on the web page to inform users of the name of each station and address, 
along with the location of the elevator (if any) and/or stairs and ramps available. Most subway lines 
have an elevator but are not available at every station. Stations are also equipped with handrails on 
ramps and stairs and platform-edge warning strips. Also, platform gap modifications or bridge plates 
are installed to reduce or eliminate the gap between trains and platforms. Accessible restrooms at 
stations are in operation. Guide dogs are also allowed in all stations and trains of the subway 
network. All subway trains have four reserved seats for disabled people, pregnant women, and older 
people, making a total of 10,584 seats. Also, free access cards are available for individuals with 
permanent disabilities, as well as for older adults with limited mobility (Metro CDMX, 2019). 

Although both modes of transformation –the subway and the Metrobus– comply with the 
general standards and overall requirements to be considered accessible transports, older travelers –
domestic and international– might decide not to use any of both, as they are overcrowded (Secretaría 
de Movilidad, 2019); thus, wheelchair users might need special assistance from the subway staff or 
otherwise would have very difficult to get on/off the train. Also, the subway and the Metrobus 
systems are well-equipped with accessible elements, particularly for users with mobility limitations, 
however, both types of transportation are not the most frequent forms of public transportation.  

As mentioned before, 67.8% of all users choose collective taxis and little is known about 
their level of accessibility, as there is no information available suggesting that collective taxis have 
equipment or facilities for those with mobility impairments. This may be explained by the type of 
vehicles used, as most of those collective taxis are combis (a van old model). On the other hand, 
individual taxis have 300 units fully equipped to transport people with limited mobility. Some taxis 
have also installed loudspeaker taximeters, and most drivers have been trained for helping disabled 
people, including older adults and pregnant women. Most of those taxis are in strategic places 
nearby hospitals focusing on the needs of residents with special needs (Libre acceso, 2019). 
 
Accessibility Competitiveness of Mexico City 
 

At a national level, Mexico City has the largest public transportation system and it is one of 
the most visited tourist destinations among Mexicans, on a par with that other well-known Mexican 
destinations such as Cancún and Los Cabos (Agenda de Competitividad Turística de la Ciudad de 
México, 2013). Unfortunately, little is known regarding the accessibility of public transport services 
and the competitiveness of Mexico City in comparison with other Mexican cities. Though some 
evidence, based on a national survey among 20 cities in Mexico, illustrates the degree of satisfaction 
of Mexicans regarding the use of public transportation, for instance, only 28% of users are satisfied 
with the information on timetables, stops, and routes available, and 62% of users believe that 
transport units have not enough space and this make transportation uncomfortable and difficult to 
access (Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad, 2018).  

Also, some evidence shows that public transport in Mexico City faces important challenges 
that are not strictly related to the supply of accessible infrastructure and services. For instance, some 
findings revealed that in Mexico City the main challenge is safe transportation, as this city has the 
highest perception of insecurity in public transportation nationwide. It is also the third city in 
Mexico with the highest percentage of users who stopped using public transport due to insecurity 
(Instituto Mexicano para la Competitividad, 2018). Women experience more problems of insecurity 

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
46 

Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

and harassment in public transport than men (Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019); consequently, some 
measures have been taken, as the subway system provides trains exclusively for women and some 
buses have a pink line for women users as well (ONU, 2014).  

Moreover, a national report on urban mobility published in 2014 by the United Nations, 
highlights that mobility in Mexico is limited and inefficient, but it is women, children, and people 
with disabilities who are most affected because their specific needs are not considered. Similarly, it 
was found that people with disabilities and older adults must overcome serious obstacles, either as 
passengers or as pedestrians, and this group of the population also suffers abuse and discrimination. 
Thus, abuse and discrimination might be considered attitudinal barriers that may affect the 
experience of public transport users, including older tourists.  

As previously mentioned, the main mode of public transportation in Mexico City —for 
national and international tourists of all ages — is the subway and individual taxis (Escuela Superior 
de Turismo, 2017). Domestic and international travelers share similar advantages when using the 
subway and individual taxis, as both modes of transportation are adequately equipped to be 
accessible. Regarding their challenges, they are also shared by domestic and international users, 
such as insecurity, discrimination, and overloaded transportation (Instituto Mexicano para la 
Competitividad, 2018; Secretaría de Movilidad, 2019). Other challenges, such as public 
transportation signage —that is primarily in Spanish, may be an additional challenge for tourists 
who do not speak Spanish, but there are no studies on this subject. 

Globally, Mexico City is far from taking the front rank as one of the most visited cities by 
international travelers. In 2019, the Mastercard Annual Report stated that three cities with high 
population densities reached the top ten of the most visited cities by international travelers: 
Bangkok, Paris, and London (see table 3).  Due to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 important changes 
have emerged in the number of international travelers and receiving destinations, as several travel 
restrictions appeared (to reduce contagion).  Though, 2019's favorite destinations can maintain their 
visitor numbers, so as travel becomes more regular and travel restrictions ease. 

 
Table 3. Top Ten Destination Cities World Wide  
 

Rank City Total International Visitors 
(Millions) 

1 Bangkok 22.78 
2 Paris 19.10 
3 London 19.09 
4 Dubai 15.93 
5 Singapore 14.67 
6 Kuala Lumpur 13.79 
7 New York 13.60 
8 Istanbul 13.40 
9 Tokyo 12.93 
10 Antalya 12.41 

Source: Global Destination City Index 2019. Master Card Report. 
 

If Mexico City wants to welcome the global growing market of older tourists, a significant 

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
47 

Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

step should be the improvement of several aspects of accessibility, including the public transport 
service. However, in countries such as Mexico, public transport seems to be driven by a 
governmental agenda far from targeting national and international tourists. The government seems 
to focus on affordable mass transportation; for instance, behind Shanghai, Mexico City is in second 
place for offering affordable transport for low-income users, followed in third place by Buenos 
Aires (Mohr, Pokotilo & Woetzel, 2021). However, Mexico City lags behind other major cities on 
several indicators of transport quality and efficiency. For example, cities such as Hong Kong, 
Madrid, and Moscow offer transport apps and fast internet connections for all users, while Mexico 
City ranks low on this indicator along with Buenos Aires and Sao Paolo (Mohr, Pokotilo & Woetzel, 
2021). 

Travel comfort has also been studied, and it includes aspects such as buses and underground 
stations accessible to disabled passengers, the leading cities worldwide (see Table 4) are those that 
have been equipped almost 100% with elevators and ramps for wheelchairs users and have several 
facilities for disable people. Unfortunately, Mexico City is not on the list of the top 20 cities leading 
accessibility in public transport (Mohr, Pokotilo & Woetzel, 2021). 
 
Table 4. Leading Cities for Travel Confort 

Rank City 
1 Istanbul 
2 Beijing 
3 Toronto 

 Source: Mohr, Pokotilo & Woetzel, 2021. 
 

As Gronau (2017) argues, some governmental strategies for increasing national and 
international tourism arrivals remain focusing on attractions and accommodations, as well as the 
implementation of marketing strategies for tourism products; while the role of transportation of 
tourism remains disregarded, and this includes public transportation in the destination place. Thus, 
the affordability aspect dominates the public transportation agenda in Mexico City (Mohr, Pokotilo 
& Woetzel, 2021). Although it was found that the subway and the Metrobus system fulfill most 
physical accessibility requirements, both types of transportation are not the most frequent forms of 
public transportation as 67.8% of all users choose collective taxis. So far, the public transport offer 
in Mexico City leaves aside the quality of transport, including accessibility, as the total experience 
of users seems irrelevant. 

 
New Challenges for the Future of Transport Supply 
 

Due to the outbreak declared by the World Health Organization of the coronavirus pandemic 
COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) on January 2020, and the recent multi-country outbreak of Monkeypox 
disease in July 2022, new barriers related to public transport have appeared. The public transport 
service is of particular importance as it is considered a highly contagious place because it gathers 
many people (Whitworth, 2020). For instance, a study among german people showed that 
participants were especially worried about being infected in places with high public traffic such as 
public transport, shops, and restaurants (Gerhold, 2020). Consequently, this pandemic threat has 
changed the use of public transport and the way people used to travel, but, for how long? Dixon, 
Bornstein, and Pankratz (2020) consider that, 

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Reyes Uribe, A. C. et al. (2022) / Events and Tourism Review, 5(2), 39-51. 
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Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
               Copyright © 2022 Ana Cecilia Reyes Uribe, Eva Angélica Guerra Ávalos, 

Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 

 

 

It is difficult to predict with confidence which changes will be temporary responses 
and which will be permanent. It is possible that the trends over the past decade will 
be undone by the combined effects of the pandemic and the potential economic 
fallout. But these crises could act as a catalyst, propelling cities towards a future 
mobility that is cleaner, safer, faster, equitable, and accessible. The challenges will 
no doubt vary widely between cities (p. 8). 
 

Conclusion 
 

In Mexico City, the public transport supply has a long road that had yet to be traveled 
towards offering a good public transportation option for both residents and visitors. The review of 
the literature establishes that changes must be done focusing on solving safety issues, growing 
congestion problems, improvement in comfort, and the reduction of traveling time among others. 
So, the reduction of physical barriers will be insufficient, as other accessibility aspects should not be 
overlooked, including, discrimination, social exclusion (attitudinal barriers) (ONU, 2014), and risk 
factors (García Lirios, 2021).  

Although this research work provides a small picture of the accessibility of public transport 
in Mexico City, and its possible influence to compete with other international tourist destinations, an 
initial recommendation for more research may be offered. More information is needed on how 
tourists, including older tourists, use and perceive urban public transport in Mexico City. Thus, 
future empirical studies should consider the implementation of quantitative and qualitative methods 
to determine: 

• The type of public transport used more often by older visitors in Mexico City and 
other major tourist destinations in Mexico 

• The reasons why some types of public transportation are more popular than others  
• The potential influence of some socio-demographic and cultural characteristics of 

users when choosing a public transport service 
• The possible influence of the type of transportation used by old tourists in their 

countries of origin 
• The weight played by the public transport offer in the choice of a destination (push 

and pull aspects) 
As discussed by Le-Klähn et al. (2014), local users and tourists may have different 

expectations and perceptions of the public transport offered in Mexico City, thus it would be 
appropriate to investigate them separately. As mentioned before, some types of public transport 
services in Mexico City (e.g., the subway system) are under-used by older Mexican residents, but 
they are frequently used by tourists of all ages, and little research has been done to know the reasons 
behind them. Appropriate development of urban tourism is likely to benefit the urban communities, 
as tourists can be new target groups of public transportation supply (Gronau, 2017). A good 
indicator of changes in the offer of accessible public transportation for older travelers will be an 
increase in older residents using several modes of transport in Mexico City. 

 
 
 
 

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Events and Tourism Review Vol. 5 No. 2 (2022), 39-51, DOI: 10.18060/26486                                                                                                  
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Paula Lourdes Guerrero Rodríguez and José Manuel Quintero Villa 
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	Abstract

