In the 2019 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala fell back in the ranking, while the Dominican Republic was the only country that improved.
According to the report prepared by the World Economic Forum, during 2019 Costa Rica ranked 41 out of 140 countries. It was followed by Panama at box 47, the Dominican Republic at 73, Nicaragua at 91, Honduras at 94, Guatemala at 99 and El Salvador at 108.
Between 2012 and 2016, the tourism sector's contribution to Costa Rica's Gross Domestic Product increased from 4.4% to 6.3%, with accommodation, food and beverage services being the most important activities.
The tourism industry can be compared to other economic activities in order to measure its importance. For example, the contribution to the GDP for 2016 of computer services was 2.2%, electricity production contributed 2.1%, the manufacture of medical instruments and supplies contributed 1.8%, and a traditional activity such as banana cultivation represents 1.1% of GDP, reported the Central Bank of Costa Rica.
Given the slowdown in activity, which is reflected in the loss of 25,000 jobs in the last two years, tourism entrepreneurs in Panama insist on continuing with the international promotion campaign.
The Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture of Panama (Cciap), denounced the fact that the tourism industry is suffering a slowdown, evident in the loss of about 25,000 jobs in the last two years, with direct impact on the management of different services and products of the sector which, in some cases, have had to halt their activities and in others to reduce them severely, as well as the closing down of several companies dedicated to various related areas.
The union has reported that five months after the outbreak of the social and political crisis in Nicaragua, the country has lost about 68,000 of the 120,000 jobs generated by the sector.
The National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur) presented a report highlighting the impact of the country's social and political crisis on the tourism sector.
Between the first and second quarters of the year, the average daily per capita expenditure made by tourists who arrived in Nicaragua fell from $45.7 to $37.7.
From a report by the Central Bank of Nicaragua:
September 19, 2018.The average daily per capita expenditure made by incoming tourists was 37.7 dollars in the second quarter of the year and registered a decrease of 17.5 percent compared to the previous quarter, highlighting spending by tourists from other regions and North America, however, due to the affluence of tourists who visited the country, spending by tourists from Central America and North America has greater relevance.Year-on-year, this indicator reflected a decrease of 17.3 percent
From January to August of this year the country recorded the arrival of 4.6 million tourists, 6% more than was reported in the same period in 2017.
According to figures from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, the arrival of non-resident visitors registered a total of 4,644,049 travelers who came into the country during the January-August period in 2018, giving an increase of 243,925 additional travelers, and a year-on-year growth of 5.5% with respect to to the same period in 2017.
From January to July of this year, the Dominican Republic recorded the arrival of 4.1 million tourists, 5.9% more than was reported in the same period in 2017.
The report details that the tourist flow, in accumulated terms for the January-July period of 2018, registered 4,106,474 non-resident visitors who came into the country through the different international airports, that is to say 227,140 additional travelers with respect to the same period in 2017, making the year-on-year rate growth 5.9%, reported the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic.
From January to June of this year, the Dominican Republic registered the arrival of 3.4 million tourists, 6% more than was reported in the same period in 2017.
From a Report by the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic:
In the month of June 2018, the records show a total arrival of 586,807 non-resident passengers by air, of which 497,997 were foreigners and 88,810 were non-resident Dominicans, representing growth of 7.5% with respect to the same month in the year 2017, keeping the Dominican Republic as the main tourist destination in the insular Caribbean.Within this result, the foreigners segment recorded an annualized increase of 6.3%, while non-resident Dominicans experienced a variation of 15.4%.
Greater air connectivity is one of the factors that explains the increase in income generated from tourism activities in the first quarter in Costa Rica, when $1.182 billion was reported.
The travel category, in the exports section of the Balance of Payments, is composed mostly of the expense of foreigners who arrive for holiday trips, and the increase reported in the first quarter, which is the high season, is attributed to good promotion of the country and better air connectivity.
Following 2017's 5% increase in the arrival of foreign tourists, the authorities foresee an increase of 6% for this year.
Regarding the figures on domestic tourism, authorities in the sector estimate that last year this item generated an economic spillover of about $2.122 million, an amount that they aim to exceed in 2018.
During Easter, 132 thousand tourists visited the country, and income from this sector amounted to $85 million, 18% more than in the same period in 2017.
From a statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism:
April 9, 2018.- The Ministry of Tourism announced today that the arrival of international visitors during the Easter holidays grew by 17.2% compared to 2017, thus hitting a record number in these statistics.
The number of foreign visitors who arrived in the country during Easter Week increased by 33% compared to the same period in 2017, while domestic tourism grew by 21%.
Figures from the Guatemalan Tourism Institute detail that "... tourist activity from March 23 to 31 was intensified compared to the same period in 2017 and exceeded forecasts, with a total of 3,065,918 domestic and foreign tourists."
During the 2016-2017 season, 250 cruise ships arrived at the country's ports, representing an increase of 34% over the previous season, and the number of tourists on board increased by 16%.
According to official figures, between the seasons 2015-2016 and 2016-2017, the number of tourists who arrived on board cruises grew by 16%, rising from 242,930 to 280,854.
Authorities estimate that this year the number of visitors that will come to the country will be 2.2 million, 4% more than the flow of tourists registered last year.
Following an 11% tourist increase between 2016 and 2017, representatives from the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (Inguat) project that this year the number of visitors will reach 2 million 197 thousand, a figure that is 4% more than the 2 million 119 thousand reported last year.
In 2016 tour operators handled the arrival of 58,000 tourists who spent an average of $140 per day, and also provided their services to another 66,000 visitors who arrived on their own.
According to the study "Impact of Tour Operators in the Development of Tourism in Nicaragua", prepared by the American University (UAM) and the National Chamber of Tourism of Nicaragua (Canatur) " ...