Cozumel set a new record for visitor numbers in 2015, with almost 4 million people arriving to the island on cruises and flights.

This broke the previous record, set in 2014, by 0.7%, according to official figures released, this month, by ASUR, the airport operator, and API, the port authority.

The number of cruise ship passengers was down by 13,167 compared with 2014 but was more than made up for by an increase of 39,248 in airport arrivals.

Cruise passengers only visit the island for one day, but their arrivals still dwarf the number arriving by air, with a total of almost 3.4 million arriving on cruise ships in 2015, compared with 553,776 by plane.

Growth may now be slowing as the 2015 increase was not as strong as the 22% jump between 2013 and 2014, but it still represents the third year in a row that Cozumel visitor numbers have risen.

Ferry passenger arrivals to Cozumel were also up significantly, with a 26% year-on-year increase, helped by the launch of a new ferry company, but these figures include local residents coming to the island and are not such a clear measure of tourism.

The continued growth in visitors will be seen as a success for local politicians and businesses that have been working to expand the island's economy. A lot of money has been invested in large hotels and a new mega-resort on the island's east coast is still remains a possibility.