Central and South America Travel and Tourism Sector Set to Outpace Global Growth in 2026

Central and South America’s Travel & Tourism sector is forecast to outperform the global average in 2026, driven by strong domestic demand, rising international visitor spending, and lower exposure to geopolitical disruption impacting other regions, according to new 2026 EIR data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, sponsored by Chase Travel, Lead Research Partner.

Regional Leadership:
WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR), sponsored by Chase Travel, forecasts Central & South America’s Travel & Tourism GDP will grow 4.1% in 2026, ahead of the global average of 3.2%.

Visitor Spending Surge:
International visitor spending across the region is projected to rise 7.8%, more than double the global growth rate of 3.7%.

Global Context:
Travel & Tourism worldwide is forecast to contribute $12 trillion to the global economy in 2026, representing 9.9% of global GDP and supporting 376 million jobs.

Resilience Factors:
The region benefits from strong domestic demand and lower exposure to geopolitical disruptions compared to other parts of the world.

Country Highlights:
- Ecuador: GDP growth forecast at 11.6%.
- Bolivia: GDP growth 10.3%, with international visitor spending up 25.8%.
- Argentina: GDP growth 4.9%.
- Colombia: GDP growth 5.7%.
- Brazil: GDP growth 2.1%, visitor spending up 3%.
- Venezuela: GDP growth 33.2%, visitor spending up 34.8%.
- Guatemala: GDP growth 6.1%, visitor spending up 9.3%.
- Panama: GDP growth 8.4%, visitor spending up 8.9%.

Strategic Priorities:
WTTC emphasizes investment in connectivity, infrastructure, traveler confidence, and workforce development as critical to sustaining growth.

Risks:
Inflationary pressures and weaker consumer sentiment could pose challenges in some markets.

Leadership Statement:
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said:
“Central and South America continues to emerge as one of the world’s most dynamic Travel & Tourism regions, with strong domestic demand, rising international spending, and growing traveler confidence supporting growth across many markets.”

Jobs Outlook:
Travel & Tourism is forecast to support 18.5 million jobs across Central & South America in 2026, representing 8.3% of all jobs in the region.