US and Canada Are Beating Costa Rica, Cuba and Jamaica to Skyrocket North American Tourism Boom With Record Arrivals and Hotel Occupancy: New Report

Published on August 26, 2025

The latest report shows that US and Canada are driving a surge in the North American tourism boom, surpassing destinations such as Costa Rica, Cuba, and Jamaica. Both nations have recorded remarkable growth in arrivals and hotel occupancy, signalling a powerful momentum in the region’s travel sector. This upward trend reflects strengthened connectivity, robust hospitality infrastructure, and increasing traveller demand, positioning the two countries as leaders in shaping the future of regional tourism.

Tourist Arrivals by Country of Origin (2025 vs 2024)

South America has seen a surge in inbound visitors from North America and the Caribbean in 2024–2025. Table 1 summarizes estimated total arrivals from each country to South America and the approximate growth compared to 2024, with examples from key destinations:

Sources: National tourism agencies and media reports for destination-specific data; regional growth rates from UNWTO Q1 2025 analysis; news of Canadian travel shifts; and local migration statistics for Costa Rica-Colombia travel.

Key observations: The United States is by far the largest contributor of tourists among these countries, with millions of Americans visiting South America annually. Mexico and Canada form a second tier with a few hundred thousand visitors each, and both are growing. In contrast, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Jamaica are minor outbound markets in this context – their combined tourist numbers to South America are only a fraction of U.S. or Mexican levels. Year-over-year, 2025 has generally brought increases in arrivals from all major markets (especially the U.S., Mexico, Canada), continuing South America’s post-pandemic tourism rebound.

Hotel Occupancy Rates and Impact of These Visitors

South American destinations are enjoying high hotel occupancy in 2025, partly thanks to visitors from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Overall, the region’s hotel industry has seen a strong start to 2025, with South America leading the Americas in performance gains. According to STR data, revenue per available room (RevPAR) in South America rose sharply in early 2025, driven by higher occupancy and room rates. In other words, hotels are filling more rooms and charging higher rates, reflecting robust demand.

• Occupancy Surges in Key Destinations: Each of the largest South American countries posted higher hotel occupancy in 2025 compared to 2024. For example, Brazil’s hotels have experienced strong leisure and corporate demand, lifting occupancy significantly. By May 2025 year-to-date, Brazil, Peru, and Chile were ranking at the top for RevPAR growth in the Americas, implying substantial occupancy increases in their capital cities and tourist hubs. In Chile and Peru, the post-pandemic travel boom (including returning North American and European tourists) has resulted in many hotels reporting occupancy rates near or above 2019 levels during peak seasons.
• Contribution of U.S. Travelers: American visitors play a major role in hotel occupancy for popular South American destinations. For instance, U.S. tourists tend to stay longer and spend more on lodging. In Colombia, Americans are 25% of all foreign visitors, and cities like Cartagena and Medellín have seen record tourism numbers that fill hotels – Medellín actually received more U.S. visitor entries than even the capital Bogotá in 2024. This influx has boosted hotel occupancy, especially in upscale and business hotels favored by Americans. Similarly, in Peru’s Cusco region (gateway to Machu Picchu) and Ecuador’s Galápagos tours, U.S. travelers are a significant portion of guests, driving occupancy to high levels (often >70% in high season, according to industry reports).
• Contribution of Mexican and Canadian Travelers: Tourists from Mexico and Canada also bolster occupancy in certain markets. Mexican visitors frequently travel within Latin America; for example, Mexicans in Colombia (the #2 foreign market) help maintain strong hotel demand in Bogotá and coastal resorts. Canadian travelers, who often visit during the Northern Hemisphere winter, contribute to higher occupancies in places like Patagonia (southern Chile/Argentina) and Andean highlands during those months. The cost advantage of South America has made Canadian tour groups more common, filling hotels especially in Argentina (boosted by a very favorable exchange rate in 2025). South American hotels have noted that Canadian visitor nights are up – e.g. one report cites Canadians flocking to Argentina, with Buenos Aires lodging bookings from Canada up over 100% year-on-year.
• Overall Occupancy Trends: As a result of this increased international influx, hotel occupancy rates across South America have risen in 2025. While exact percentages vary by country and season, industry data show South America’s hotel occupancy growth outpacing other regions. In fact, South America’s hotel sector outperformed with the highest growth in the Americas in early 2025, buoyed by both local and foreign demand. STR reports that concerted events and inter-regional travel are keeping hotels busy, and that the region’s value-for-money appeal (lower costs than U.S./Europe) is attracting more overseas visitors.

It’s worth noting that a few exceptions exist: certain destinations oriented toward regional business travel saw a temporary slowdown (for example, countries heavily dependent on U.S. business travel saw a slight dip amid U.S. corporate belt-tightening). However, leisure-focused areas more than made up for it with higher tourist volumes. On balance, South American hotels are enjoying fuller rooms in 2025 compared to the year prior, thanks in part to the travelers from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada discussed above.

Records and Standout Statistics in 2024–2025

Fueled by the growing visitor numbers, several record-breaking milestones and standout stats have been recorded in South America’s tourism over the past year:

• Historic Highs in Brazil: Brazil is a prime example of the boom. In the first six months of 2025, Brazil welcomed 5.33 million international tourists, nearly 50% more than the same period in 2024. This mid-year total is the highest ever recorded for Brazil at that point in the year. It puts Brazil on track to easily surpass its 2024 total of 6.65 million and potentially reach ~8 million visitors in 2025 (an ambitious target cited by officials). Notably, Argentina remained the top source for Brazil (over 2.1 million Argentines through April), but U.S. visitors (305,932 through April) and others helped drive the record influx. Even the reintroduction of a tourist visa for U.S. and Canadian citizens in 2024 did not deter growth – Brazil revived an e-visa system in April 2025 for those nationals, priced around $80, but arrivals continued to peak regardless.
• Colombia’s All-Time Record: Colombia broke its tourism record in 2024, receiving 6.7 million non-resident visitors. This was an +8.5% increase over 2023 and even exceeded the government’s goals. Within that, U.S. tourists stood out as the largest group (approx. 1.2 million). Colombia’s tourism officials highlighted this as a historic high, with the country on pace to aim for 7.5 million by 2026. Mid-2025 data indicated the trend was continuing upward.
• Chile’s Rapid Recovery: Chile recorded 5.24 million foreign arrivals in 2024, a 40.4% jump from 2023, marking its best year since the pandemic and even 16% above 2019 levels. This “year of reactivation” included record monthly highs (e.g. 647k arrivals in Dec 2024 alone. By nationality, Argentina supplied nearly 40% of Chile’s visitors, but Brazil (15%) and the U.S. (4.8%) were next, with the U.S. contributing about 251,000 tourists in 2024. Notably, Uruguay and Mexico to Chile grew fastest in percentage terms (+80.6% and +20.1% respectively), albeit from smaller bases.
• Paraguay’s Growth Spike: Some smaller markets saw extraordinary growth. Paraguay led the region in early 2025 growth rates – in Q1 2025, international arrivals to South America were up 13%, with Paraguay up a whopping +53% year-on-year (the highest relative jump in the world for that period). This reflects Paraguay’s post-pandemic recovery and perhaps improved connectivity; it’s a standout statistic even though Paraguay’s absolute visitor numbers are modest.
• Jamaica’s Tourism Boom (Contextual): Outside South America, it’s worth noting that some Latin American/Caribbean countries like Jamaica and Mexico are also breaking records in 2025, underscoring a continental trend. Jamaica saw record mid-year arrivals (2.3 million by July 2025, highest ever for that point), and Mexico received 47.4 million visitors in Jan–July 2025 (+14% YOY) – demonstrating a travel boom across the Americas. While these are inbound records (not outbound), they indicate a broader context of thriving tourism that also boosts intra-regional travel. Many Americans and Canadians are among those contributing to Mexico’s and the Caribbean’s records, which in turn correlates with more Latin Americans traveling south.

In summary, 2024 and 2025 have produced banner tourism numbers in South America: multiple countries are at or above pre-2019 visitor levels, and some are hitting historic peaks in arrivals and tourism revenues. The United States remains a key player in these records (as a top source in many countries), while regional travelers (e.g. Argentines, Brazilians, Chileans) also drive growth. Such standout statistics underscore the strong recovery and appeal of South America as a destination.

Notable Tourism Trends and Drivers in 2025

Several trends, events, and partnerships have contributed to the above numbers, shaping tourism flows from the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Jamaica to South America in 2025:

• Economic and Currency Factors: The strength of the U.S. dollar (and to an extent the Canadian dollar) against many South American currencies has made South American travel more affordable for North Americans. This “currency bargain” is a significant draw. For example, Argentina’s favorable exchange rate in 2024–25 turned it into a hot destination for Canadians – a Canadian dollar now goes much further in Buenos Aires than in many U.S. cities. This has encouraged Canadians and Americans to choose places like Argentina, Colombia, and Peru for vacation, boosting arrival numbers. Mexican travelers likewise benefit from relatively strong purchasing power in neighboring Latin countries.
• Traveler Sentiment and Policies: On the flip side, geopolitical and safety sentiments have redirected some travel. Notably, a subset of Canadians are avoiding U.S. trips due to perceived hassles or tensions, and are choosing Latin America instead. Canadian tour operators reported declines in bookings to U.S. sunbelt destinations in 2024, concurrent with spikes in Latin America (and other regions). This shift – partly a reaction to U.S. border policies and internal politics – has funneled more Canadian tourists into South America and the Caribbean. Likewise, some U.S. travelers have been looking for alternatives to crowded European destinations and are finding South America’s less-crowded attractions appealing in 2025.
• Improved Air Connectivity: Expanded flight routes and partnerships are making South America more accessible. For example, Canadian airlines launched new routes and increased seat capacity to Latin America for winter 2024/25 in response to rising demand. More direct flights (e.g. Toronto to Buenos Aires, Montreal to Bogotá) and charter services have lowered barriers. U.S. airlines too have added flights: new direct services from North America to secondary South American cities (like new routes to Medellín, Quito, Mendoza, etc.) have come online post-pandemic. These aviation initiatives, often in partnership with tourism boards, are boosting arrival numbers by making travel more convenient.
• Major Events and Marketing Campaigns: High-profile events in South America in 2025 drew international visitors in droves. A prime example is the series of mega-concert tours that swept the continent: Shakira’s “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” World Tour (Feb–May 2025) hit nine countries in the Americas (including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Argentina), and the rock band System of a Down’s South America Tour (Apr–May 2025) hit multiple cities. These events attracted fans (including many from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico) and led to sold-out hotels and flights in host cities. For instance, Rio de Janeiro’s free Lady Gaga concert in May 2025 drew an estimated 2+ million attendees – an unprecedented crowd that undoubtedly included international travelers and filled every available accommodation. Such events not only spike occupancy but also generate buzz that can spur tourism long after the concert.

In addition, national tourism boards have been actively courting travelers from our focus countries. Colombia’s tourism campaign “Colombia, Land of Beauty”, launched in 2023, continued into 2024–25 and emphasized cultural and natural attractions – helping Colombia attract more U.S. and Mexican tourists. Brazil’s Embratur ramped up promotion in North America, and even after reinstating visas for Americans/Canadians, Brazil made the process digital and relatively easy (e-Visas) to mitigate deterrence. Peru and Ecuador have also capitalized on the growing interest with targeted marketing of adventure and eco-tourism to U.S./Canadian audiences, which is reflected in rising arrivals.

• Regional and Bilateral Initiatives: Some government partnerships have facilitated travel growth. For example, Mercosur countries (which include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay) have eased cross-border travel which indirectly benefits tourists extending trips within South America. While there’s no direct travel pact involving the U.S. or Canada with South America, visa policy adjustments have an effect – e.g. the United States and Brazil are negotiating to streamline trusted traveler programs, and countries like Colombia eliminated visa requirements for Mexican tourists years ago, fostering easier tourism (hence Mexico now a top market for Colombia. Costa Rica and Colombia have strengthened ties too, with more flight options and simplified entry (Costa Ricans can travel to South America relatively freely, evidenced by tens of thousands of trips to Colombia despite a new yellow fever vaccine rule). These kinds of arrangements and understandings continue to encourage inter-American tourism.
• Shifting Preferences & Niche Tourism: Travelers from the U.S. and Canada in 2025 are increasingly seeking “experience-rich” and cost-effective trips, which South America provides. Surveys show Americans are prioritizing leisure travel despite economic anxieties. Many are opting for South American destinations for unique experiences (Amazon rainforest, Andes trekking, Galápagos wildlife, Patagonia cruises) that offer value versus pricier European trips. This shift is reflected in the growth stats. Niche segments like adventure tourism, gastro-tourism, and heritage travel are booming. For instance, Peru’s gastronomy and Bolivia’s salt flats have drawn more U.S. visitors, and Brazil hosted major sporting events and festivals (beyond Carnival) that attracted international attendees. These trends indicate a broadening of what motivates travel to South America, beyond the traditional “Machu Picchu” trip, resulting in repeat visits and longer stays (benefiting hotel occupancy).

In conclusion, the tourism landscape in 2025 shows South America thriving as a destination, with substantial contributions from the United States, Mexico, Canada, and to a lesser extent Central American and Caribbean neighbors. Arrivals from these countries are up, growth rates are robust (often outpacing global averages), and hotels are busier than they’ve been in years. Key drivers include economic advantages, changing traveler sentiment, enhanced connectivity, and a series of events and marketing efforts that have put South America on the map for more international travelers. Barring unforeseen disruptions, this momentum is likely to carry forward, with South American tourism benefiting from both local initiatives and the continued interest of North American and Caribbean tourists exploring the wonders of the southern continent.

Sources:

• Official tourism statistics and press releases from South American governments and the UNWTO (2024–2025), e.g. Colombia’s Ministry of Tourism report on 6.7M visitors in 2024, Peru’s Mincetur report on 3.2M visitors in 2024, and Brazil’s Embratur data on record 2025 arrivals.
• News articles and industry analyses: El País (Colombia record), La República (Peru growth and source markets), CNN Brasil (Brazil Q1 record), Travel2Latam/UNWTO Barometer (South America +13% in Q1 2025).
• U.S. Travel and tourism reports: NTTO/USTravel data on American outbound trends and STR hospitality reports on hotel performance in the Americas.
• Travel media coverage: Travel And Tour World (Americas tourism boom comparisons), and La Nación Costa Rica (Costa Ricans traveling to Colombia). These illustrate the factors behind the numbers and corroborate the trends described.