The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts that international tourist numbers in Latin America will exceed pre-pandemic levels.
In the first half of 2024, foreign tourists to the region are expected to increase by 12% compared to 2019, according to a report by VisaGuide.World.
During the important travel and tourism event “FITUR” in Madrid, WTTC in collaboration with ForwardKeys presents recent data on international bookings and arrivals, with very positive expectations for the Latin American market. .
The analysis shows, among other findings, that several destinations in Latin America are expected to see an increase in arrivals in the first half of this year compared to 2019. These destinations include:
- El Salvador (157%)
- Nicaragua (142%)
- Guatemala (52%)
- Honduras (49%)
- Costa Rica (35%)
- Mexico (31%)
- Colombia (23%)
WTTC further noted that airlines are increasing passenger capacity due to increased demand. The number of seats in the first half of 2024 will exceed the 2019 level, reaching 62.3 million seats.
In this regard, passenger numbers at Cancun Airport are expected to increase by 45% compared to 2019, reaching 6.8 million passengers in the first six months of 2024. Meanwhile, Panama Airport and Mexico City Airport are expected to welcome 5.5 million and 5.2 million passengers. Each.
WTTC's research also revealed that the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain and Germany are among the most important source markets for Latin America.
WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson and others said public-private collaborative efforts in Latin America have contributed to tourism growth.
He further pointed out that the region would see a 12% increase in international tourism.
This highlights the important role Latin America plays in the global tourism scene, marks a growth milestone and reaffirms Latin America's attractiveness for international travelers.
According to WTTC analysis, 70% of travelers to Latin America will be on a medium-term stay (4-13 nights), 23% will be on a long-term stay, and 7% will be on a short-term stay.
According to Olivier Ponty, vice president of insights at ForwardKeys, these destinations are able to predict and understand travel trends, which helps them attract travelers and extend their stays.
This data-driven approach will not only drive tourism growth but also create significant opportunities for tourist spending in the region.
Occupancy rates in Latin America, which includes Mexico and the Caribbean, rose from 58.7 percent in 2022 to 61.2 percent in 2023, according to Coster data. Meanwhile, compared to pre-pandemic 2019, occupancy increased by 2.3%.
