Colombia and Others Strengthen US Tourism as South American Travel Provides Crucial Growth in 2026

South American Demand Stands Out Amid Wider US Tourism Weakness

The US inbound tourism picture remained mixed heading into summer 2026.

In May, international air passenger traffic to and from the country totalled 22.7 million, down 1.2% from May 2025. Non-US citizen air passenger arrivals from foreign countries reached 4.5 million, falling 4.5% year on year.

Overseas visitor arrivals were weaker still. The United States received 2.8 million overseas visitors in May, down 6.5% from a year earlier and equivalent to only 78.6% of May 2019 volume.

Year-to-date overseas visitation through May was running 4.8% below the corresponding 2025 period.

Against that background, the 2.2% growth recorded across South America, Central America and the Caribbean takes on greater significance.

Brazil Emerges as One of America’s Most Valuable Long-Haul Markets

Brazil is central to the South American tourism story.

US Department of Commerce data identify Brazil as one of the largest long-haul source markets for American tourism. Approximately 1.9 million Brazilians visited the United States in 2024, spending more than $9 billion.

Brazilian visitors are particularly valuable because they tend to stay for extended periods and spend heavily during their trips.

Government market intelligence indicates that Brazilian visitors typically remain in the United States for more than 10 days and spend over $5,000 per trip. More than 86% are repeat travellers.

That repeat-visitor rate is particularly important. It suggests Brazilian demand is not simply dependent on first-time trips to headline destinations. Returning travellers can spread tourism spending towards secondary cities, attractions, shopping districts and regional experiences.

Brazil’s US Tourism Market Is Forecast to Grow Again in 2026

The government’s latest international visitor forecast strengthens that picture.

Brazil sent approximately 1.917 million visitors to the United States in 2025. The National Travel and Tourism Office forecasts that number will increase to approximately 2.027 million in 2026.

That represents projected growth of 5.8%.

Further increases are expected thereafter, with Brazilian visitation forecast at approximately 2.109 million in 2027, 2.208 million in 2028, 2.307 million in 2029 and 2.408 million by 2030.

That trajectory could add almost half a million Brazilian visitors annually between 2025 and 2030 if the forecast is realised.

Colombia Builds on More Than One Million US Travellers

Colombia provides another major source of South American demand.

Official US government market intelligence recorded 1,068,997 Colombian travellers to the United States in 2024, making America the leading international destination for Colombian travellers.

That represented substantial growth from 932,060 visitors in 2023.

The 2023 market generated approximately $3.7 billion in expenditures, including airfares, making Colombia the second-largest Latin American source market after Brazil in the government analysis.

The market also benefits from substantial aviation connectivity. Around 311 weekly direct flights connect Colombian cities with the United States.

Those services link Bogotá, Medellín, Barranquilla, Cartagena and Pereira with American destinations including Miami, Orlando, New York, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas.

Air Connectivity Is Turning South America into a Strategic US Tourism Market

Air service is one of the strongest structural reasons South American tourism can continue expanding.

Colombia demonstrates this particularly clearly. In addition to established connections from Bogotá and Medellín, new routes from secondary cities such as Bucaramanga and Armenia have widened access to international travel.

Brazil similarly has strong links with major American gateways and remains a priority market for US destinations.

In May 2026, Miami handled 2.1 million international air passengers, making it America’s second-largest international gateway behind New York JFK, which handled 2.9 million.

Miami’s geographic position and longstanding connectivity with Latin America make it particularly important to South American tourism flows.

Brazil and Colombia Already Rank Among Major Overseas Tourism Sources

Monthly visitor statistics reinforce the importance of both countries.

In March 2026, Brazil generated 126,845 overseas tourism arrivals to the United States, making it the third-largest overseas tourism source that month behind the United Kingdom and Japan.

Colombia followed closely with 90,803 tourism arrivals, ranking fifth.

This put two South American countries among the five largest overseas tourism markets for the United States during March.

The ranking shows that South American growth is not simply the result of combining many small markets. Brazil and Colombia individually have substantial weight within US inbound tourism.

World Cup Adds Another Layer to Brazilian Travel Demand

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has provided an additional catalyst.

US government trade intelligence reported accelerating Brazilian demand ahead of the tournament, with travellers booking flights, hotels, entertainment, domestic transport and other services.

Brazil’s role is particularly important because football-related travel can extend well beyond match attendance.

Visitors may combine games with shopping, theme parks, restaurants, entertainment and multi-city itineraries.

For US destinations, this creates an opportunity to convert tournament demand into broader tourism spending and potentially future repeat visits.

South America Offers Support While US Tourism Searches for Stronger Recovery

The wider US outlook remains cautious.

The National Travel and Tourism Office forecast 70.474 million international arrivals in 2026, up 3.2% from 68.288 million in 2025.

Overseas visitation, however, is forecast to grow only 1.6% in 2026.

Brazil is expected to outperform that broader overseas growth rate with its projected 5.8% increase.

The forecast expects total international visitation to rise further to 74.141 million in 2027, 78.652 million in 2028 and a record 82.335 million in 2029.

South American markets could therefore play an important role in determining how quickly that recovery develops.

South American Growth Gives US Tourism a Valuable Counterweight

The available government figures show a clear pattern.

Brazil is approaching 2 million annual visitors, with arrivals forecast to grow 5.8% in 2026. Colombia has already crossed 1 million annual travellers, supported by roughly 311 weekly direct flights. In March, both countries ranked among America’s five largest overseas tourism sources.

Meanwhile, air passenger movements between the United States and South America, Central America and the Caribbean were 12.8% above pre-pandemic May 2019 levels.

That does not mean South America is single-handedly rescuing US tourism. The official data do not support such a sweeping conclusion, and the claimed 5.5% first-half South American outbound increase could not be independently established from the publicly available US government releases reviewed.

What the official numbers do establish is significant enough: Brazil, Colombia and the wider Latin American aviation market are providing measurable growth at a time when overall overseas arrivals remain under pressure.

For US tourism, that makes South America less of an emerging opportunity and increasingly a core part of the country’s international visitor economy.