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Mexico City Deploys Basílica Operation With 13 Million Pilgrims Expected

Official forecasts point to MXN 21.7 billion in national spending, reflecting the feast day’s outsized economic pull.

Overview

  • The city activated Operativo Basílica 2025 from Dec. 5–14, fielding 5,080 police with 255 patrols, 73 motorcycles, 15 tow trucks, two drones, 13 ambulances and five moto-ambulances, plus two Condores helicopters and over 100,000 support staff.
  • Authorities expect to top last year’s roughly 13 million visitors, with peak arrivals on Dec. 11–12 and flows continuing through the weekend, underlined by expanded metro staffing and civil-protection brigades.
  • Concanaco Servytur projects MXN 21.7 billion in spending nationwide for Dec. 6–15, up 8.5% from 2024, led by lodging, transport, food-and-beverage and sales of religious items and crafts.
  • Canaco CDMX estimates MXN 1,724 million for the capital, with per-pilgrim outlays of about MXN 260–1,800 across food, flowers, transport, lodging and souvenirs.
  • Las Mañanitas will be sung at 00:00 on Dec. 12, with a Televisa special marking 90 years of broadcasts featuring artists such as Lucero, Carlos Rivera and Aída Cuevas, and officials advise layered clothing, medical ID cards and no pyrotechnics.