Tourism activity continues to pick up in Central America, with seven Central American countries and the Dominican Republic reporting positive tourism performance. These are the conclusions of the Central American Tourism Integration Authority (SITCA).
The national tourism boards of eight member countries – Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama – are united under the SITCA umbrella. They registered a total of 11.1 million visitors in 2021, 86 percent of which were tourists and 14 percent were sightseers.
This conclusion is in line with the reports of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which indicates that the Americas has achieved one of the best results in terms of tourism recovery compared to 2020. In this respect, Central America and the Dominican Republic stand out, with a growth of 54 percent.
Compared to 2020, in 2021 the number of visits will increase by 75.8 percent. Also, compared to 2020, revenue increased by 84 percent.
Three factors have significantly contributed to the recovery trend in Central America: the percentage of the population vaccinated, the lifting of travel restrictions, and the promotion of domestic and intra-regional tourism. Taken together, these have led to tourism re-establishing a foothold in the tourist-rich region, with a strong focus on what makes the region attractive and diverse: unspoiled nature, vibrant culture, opportunities for exciting outdoor adventures, and discoveries, which all contribute to further upswing. in the second half of 2022. Together, the eight participating countries launched a tourism campaign that takes visitors on a journey back to their origins.