Ecuador and Bolivia Lead 2026 Tourism Growth as Central and South America GDP Rises Over 4 Percent

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Ecuador and Bolivia lead 2026 tourism growth as Central and South America GDP rises 4.1 percent, putting the region ahead of the projected 3.2% global Travel & Tourism growth rate as international visitor spending increases 7.8%. New World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts show domestic demand, stronger international spending and comparatively lower exposure to major geopolitical disruption supporting the regional expansion.

Central and South America Forecast to Beat Global Tourism Growth

Central and South America’s Travel & Tourism economy is expected to expand faster than the global sector in 2026, according to the latest Economic Impact Research from the World Travel & Tourism Council.

WTTC forecasts the sector’s contribution to regional GDP will increase 4.1% in 2026.

Globally, Travel & Tourism GDP is projected to grow 3.2%.

That leaves Central and South America’s projected growth rate 0.9 percentage points above the global average.

International visitor spending provides an even sharper contrast.

Spending by overseas visitors across Central and South America is forecast to rise 7.8%, compared with worldwide growth of 3.7%.

The regional rate is therefore more than twice the global forecast.

Central and South America Tourism Outlook for 2026

The forecasts were published by WTTC on 28 May 2026 and form part of its Economic Impact Research produced with Oxford Economics.

Ecuador Emerges as One of the Fastest-Growing Markets

Ecuador stands out in WTTC’s regional projections.

Travel & Tourism GDP in the country is expected to grow 11.6% in 2026, putting Ecuador ahead of several other major tourism economies covered by the regional forecast.

The projection comes as Ecuador continues to offer a highly diversified tourism product.

International travellers can combine the Galápagos Islands, Quito, Amazon experiences, Pacific destinations and Andean landscapes within the same country.

WTTC’s figures indicate that this tourism economy could expand at a significantly faster pace than the broader regional average during 2026.

However, the figures are forecasts rather than completed annual results. Actual performance will depend on economic conditions, traveller demand, connectivity and other developments through the remainder of the year.

Bolivia Tourism GDP Forecast to Rise 10.3 Percent

Bolivia is another standout market.

WTTC expects the country’s Travel & Tourism GDP to increase 10.3% during 2026.

More strikingly, international visitor spending is projected to climb 25.8%.

That spending forecast is more than three times the 7.8% regional increase and substantially above the global 3.7% projection.

Bolivia’s tourism economy is built around distinctive attractions ranging from Salar de Uyuni and Lake Titicaca to La Paz, Sucre, the Andes and Amazonian environments.

The projected rise in international spending indicates that overseas visitors could become an increasingly important economic component of the country’s tourism sector during 2026.

Colombia Expected to Grow 5.7 Percent

Colombia is also forecast to outperform the regional average.

WTTC expects Travel & Tourism GDP in Colombia to expand 5.7% in 2026.

That is above both Central and South America’s 4.1% forecast and the worldwide 3.2% projection.

Colombia has developed an increasingly broad international tourism offer encompassing Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, the Coffee Region, Caribbean destinations and nature-based experiences.

The WTTC forecast places Colombia among the South American economies contributing to the region’s stronger 2026 momentum.

Argentina Forecast at 4.9 Percent Growth

Argentina’s Travel & Tourism economy is forecast to grow 4.9% this year.

That would also put the country above the regional and global rates.

Argentina has a highly diversified tourism economy, with Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Mendoza, Iguazú and its mountain and coastal destinations supporting domestic and international demand.

WTTC’s regional assessment points to resilient domestic travel as one of the factors helping Central and South America outperform other markets.

For large countries such as Argentina and Brazil, domestic tourism can provide an important source of demand when international travel conditions fluctuate.

Brazil Grows More Slowly but Remains a Major Market

Brazil presents a different picture.

Travel & Tourism GDP in the country is forecast to increase 2.1% in 2026, below the 4.1% regional average.

International visitor spending is projected to rise 3%.

While these rates are less dramatic than those expected in Ecuador, Bolivia or Colombia, Brazil remains one of the region’s largest tourism economies.

Its scale means even comparatively moderate percentage growth can represent substantial tourism activity.

The country’s combination of domestic demand and international tourism continues to make Brazil central to the wider South American travel economy.

Venezuela Records the Highest Forecast Growth Rate

WTTC’s most dramatic percentage forecast is for Venezuela.

Travel & Tourism GDP is projected to increase 33.2% in 2026, while international visitor spending is expected to rise 34.8%.

These figures are much higher than the projections for other countries highlighted in the regional analysis.

However, percentage growth needs to be interpreted carefully.

Rapid increases can partly reflect recovery from a lower base, meaning a high percentage rate does not necessarily indicate that an economy has become the region’s largest tourism market.

WTTC’s forecasts nevertheless identify Venezuela as a market experiencing particularly strong tourism momentum in 2026.

Central America Adds to Regional Momentum

The overall 4.1% figure includes Central America as well as South America.

That distinction is essential because several Central American economies are among the markets contributing to the regional forecast.

Guatemala’s Travel & Tourism GDP is projected to increase 6.1%, while international visitor spending is expected to grow 9.3%.

Panama is forecast to record even stronger Travel & Tourism GDP growth of 8.4%, accompanied by an 8.9% rise in international visitor spending.

Selected WTTC Country Forecasts for 2026

The figures demonstrate why describing the research solely as a South American forecast would leave out an important part of WTTC’s analysis.

International Spending Becomes a Major Growth Driver

The projected 7.8% rise in international visitor spending is one of the most important numbers in the research.

It substantially exceeds the 4.1% projected increase in regional Travel & Tourism GDP.

It is also more than double the global international visitor spending growth forecast of 3.7%.

Higher international spending can benefit several parts of the tourism economy, including:

• Hotels and accommodation
• Airlines and airports
• Restaurants
• Tour operators
• Attractions and cultural sites
• Local transport providers
• Guides and experience operators
• Retail businesses

The ultimate economic effect will vary between destinations depending on where visitors spend their money and how much tourism revenue remains within local economies.

Domestic Tourism Adds Resilience

International arrivals are only one part of the story.

WTTC identifies resilient domestic demand as another reason Central and South America are expected to perform strongly.

Domestic travel can provide an important economic buffer because destinations are not entirely dependent on overseas visitors.

This is particularly relevant in larger markets where residents have extensive opportunities to travel within their own countries.

Strong domestic demand can support airlines, accommodation businesses, restaurants and destinations even when international travel faces economic or geopolitical disruption.

Geopolitical Exposure Gives Region Relative Advantage

WTTC also points to Central and South America’s comparatively lower exposure to geopolitical disruption affecting some other regions.

Ongoing conflicts can influence air routes, energy prices, traveller sentiment and major international source markets.

According to WTTC, affected transit corridors and source markets play a smaller role in Central and South America’s tourism economy than they do in some other parts of the world.

That does not make the region immune from global disruption.

Fuel prices, inflation, currency movements and changes in consumer confidence can still affect travel demand.

But WTTC considers the region relatively well positioned under current conditions.

18.5 Million Tourism Jobs Forecast Across the Region

Tourism’s economic importance also extends to employment.

WTTC forecasts that Travel & Tourism will support 18.5 million jobs across Central and South America in 2026.

That represents 8.3% of all employment in the region.

Globally, Travel & Tourism is expected to support approximately 376 million jobs during the year.

The employment figures demonstrate why tourism growth has implications extending beyond hotels and airlines.

The sector supports jobs across food services, transportation, attractions, retail, entertainment and numerous supply chains connected with visitor spending.

Global Tourism Economy Heads Towards 12 Trillion Dollars

Central and South America’s stronger performance is taking place against an expanding global tourism economy.

WTTC forecasts that Travel & Tourism will contribute approximately US$12 trillion to the global economy in 2026.

That would represent about 9.9% of worldwide GDP.

Over the next decade, global Travel & Tourism GDP is projected to grow at an annual rate of 3.6%, compared with 2.4% for the wider global economy.

If realised, that would mean tourism continues expanding faster than overall economic activity.

Risks Could Still Alter the 2026 Forecast

WTTC makes clear that these numbers are forecasts, not guaranteed outcomes.

The projections are based on economic and geopolitical conditions available when the research was prepared.

Several variables could alter the final results.

Inflation remains one concern because higher prices can reduce household travel budgets.

Consumer confidence is another.

Air connectivity, accommodation capacity, infrastructure and workforce availability could also determine whether individual destinations can convert stronger demand into sustained economic growth.

WTTC argues that continued investment in connectivity, tourism infrastructure and workforce development will be necessary if Central and South America want to maintain their current trajectory.

Conclusion

Ecuador and Bolivia lead 2026 tourism growth as Central and South America GDP rises 4.1 percent, exceeding the projected 3.2% global Travel & Tourism growth rate as international visitor spending across the region climbs 7.8%. Ecuador is forecast to grow 11.6% and Bolivia 10.3%, while Colombia, Argentina, Panama and Guatemala are also projected to exceed the regional or global benchmark. With Travel & Tourism expected to support 18.5 million regional jobs, WTTC’s latest forecast shows Central and South America entering 2026 with stronger tourism momentum than the worldwide sector, although inflation, consumer sentiment and geopolitical developments remain risks to the outlook.