After Yearslong Slump Because Of Cartel Violence, Mexico Tourism Up Almost 20%

CANCUN, MEXICO - MARCH 21: Trey Songz performs onstage at mtvU Spring Break 2014 at the Grand Oasis Hotel on March 21, 2014 in Cancun, Mexico. "mtvU Spring Break"? starts airing March 31st on mtvU. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for MTV) (2014 Getty Images)

Mexico's central bank says the country's international tourism grew about 20 percent in the first six months of 2014, compared to the same period last year.

The Bank of Mexico says in a statement Tuesday that 14.2 million foreigners visited Mexico between January and June and spent $8.4 billion.

International tourism to Mexico declined after drug cartel violence increased. A number of cruise operators dropped port calls and the number of visitors to northern border cities plunged.

The central bank says Mexico's cruise and border tourism have rebounded. Border tourism grew 35.5 percent in the first six months of this year to 6 million visitors and the number of cruise visitors rose 25 percent to 3 million.