Resumo: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a major crisis in international tourism. The restrictions imposed after the WHO declaration gave way to a selective opening of the borders, with the intention of recovering the economy and tourist travel. The objective of this article is to carry out a comparative study between Cancun (Quintana Roo, Mexico) and Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), through the analysis of their tourist data and the restrictions dictated by their respective governments. This case study shows how the recovery has been driven by the interests of the industry, which is trying to rush back to the old normal, disregarding academic advice that encourages structural change based on sustainability and resilience. The pleasure peripheries of the Turner model continue to define the main movements of international tourism, despite the pandemic.
