- Central and South America’s Travel and Tourism sector is forecast to grow 4.1pc in 2026.
- International visitor spending across the region rises 7.8pc.
- Ecuador records the highest growth at 11.6pc.
- Venezuela projects 33.2pc GDP growth in the sector.
- The sector supports 18.5m jobs in 2026.
Central and South America’s Travel and Tourism sector has been forecast to grow faster than the global average in 2026. WTTC research projects regional growth of 4.1pc compared with the global average of 3.2pc. International visitor spending in the region is projected to rise 7.8pc.
Ecuador leads forecasts with 11.6pc growth in Travel and Tourism GDP while Bolivia follows at 10.3pc. Venezuela shows the strongest projected increase at 33.2pc. Guatemala and Panama record forecasts of 6.1pc and 8.4pc respectively.
The World Travel and Tourism Council released the data on 28 May 2026 in Madrid. The region benefits from domestic demand and lower exposure to certain global disruptions.
Gloria Guevara shared “Central and South America continues to emerge as one of the world’s most dynamic Travel and Tourism regions. Countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Guatemala, Panama, Argentina, Colombia, Brazil, and Venezuela are demonstrating the enormous potential of the sector.”
