During 2019, tourist arrivals to Guatemala increased 6% over the previous year; however, the average stay decreased slightly, from 6.63 days in 2018 to 6.56 days in 2019.
Figures from the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (INGUAT) show that in 2019 2,559,599 tourists entered the country, a figure 6% higher than the 2,405,902 visitors reported in 2018.
Salvadoran authorities estimate that the income left by tourists who visited the country last year reached $1.777 billion, 16% more than that registered in 2018.
Estimates made by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) indicate that between 2018 and 2019 the number of tourists visiting El Salvador increased by nearly 4% from 2.5 million to 2.6 million.
Between the first quarter of 2017 and the same period in 2018, the number of visitors that arrived in the country registered a slight decrease of 1.4%, but the overall expenditure made by them increased by 2.7%.
According to sector's figures, between the first quarter of 2017 and the same period of this year the number of tourists fell from 734,000 to 723,000, and the currencies received registered a slight increase, going from $302 million to $310 million.
For the 2017-2018 season, the arrival of 165,000 tourists on board 120 cruise ships is expected, which will represent an increase of 33% over the previous period.
The general director of the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (Inguat), Jorge Mario Chajon, stated that "...the current cruise season that began in September and will end next August, will be the best ever in Guatemala, both terms of the arrival of vessels, as well as the number of cruise passengers and the projected foreign exchange income. 'A total of 120 cruises will arrive during the season, which is 25% more than last year'."
Visits by foreigners to undergo medical procedures in Costa Rica last year generated $437 million, 5% more than was registered in 2016.
According to figures from the Central Bank of Costa Rica, medical tourism revenues have shown sustained growth, as in 2015, 2016 and 2017 there were reports of increases in relation to each of the preceding years of 9%, 16% and 5% respectively.
Last year, 2.3 million tourists arrived in the country, spending $715 million, 3% more than in 2016.
The Central Bank of Honduras reported that "...In the fourth quarter of 2017, spending by non-resident travelers in the country totaled US $714.8 million (54.2% of total service exports), 3.1% more than last year."
It has been estimated that 2017 closed with the arrival of 2.1 million visitors to the country, 11% more than in the previous year, and foreign currency generated of more than $1.2 billion.
The Guatemalan Tourism Institute also stressed that this is the best cruise season in the history of the country, which will see 122 dockings.
From January to October 2017, tourist spending grew by only 1.6% compared to the same period in 2016, significantly lower than the 13% recorded between 2015 and 2016.
According to figures from the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic, during the first ten months of the year tourists who arrived in the country spent $3.798 billion, an amount that exceeds by $60 million the $3.738 billion registered in the same period in 2016.
Between January and April this year, 2.4 million tourists came in, with expenditures of $1.29 billion, up 8% and 15% respectively compared to the same period last year.
The same upward trend can be seen when looking at monthly data on expenditures, which went from $308 million in January to $322 million in April, confirming the rise in visitor spending.
On average, each person attending a convention injects $300 per day into the Panamanian economy, for accommodation, shopping, food and transport.
According to the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), since the beginning of last year up until now there have been approximately 200 conferences in the country. The conventions in 2012 alone generated for the country between $45 and $50 million in foreign exchange.
The act of holding conventions in Panama has intensified areas such as transportation, lodging and shopping, and its contribution to GDP is projected for this year at $32 million.
According to the Tourism Authority of Panama (ATP), the IX World Congress and celebration of 50th anniversary of the World Missionary Movement's work, held at the Figali Convention Center, generated 20,000 room nights and provided $5 million.
In the first seven months of the year 1,236,000 visitors came to the country, 5.4% more than the in same period in 2011, with the majority of tourists coming from the U.S.
The increase in the number of visitors has not been sufficient to cover the greater supply of hotels, which experienced a drop in occupancy rates of 7%.
Hotel industry representatives point out that in order to maintain the occupancy level above 60%, the increase in the number of tourists would have to be 15%.