This growth will be driven by rising international visitor spending, and lower exposure to geopolitical disruption impacting other regions, among other factors.
WTTC’s latest Economic Impact Research (EIR) forecasts travel and tourism GDP across Central and South America will grow 4.1% in 2026, ahead of the global average of 3.2%. International visitor spending across the region is projected to increase 7.8%, more than double the global growth rate of 3.7%.
Globally, WTTC data forecasts travel and tourism will contribute $12 trillion to the world economy in 2026, accounting for 9.9% of global GDP, while supporting 376 million jobs worldwide. Over the next decade, global travel and tourism GDP is forecast to grow at an annual rate of 3.6%, 1.5 times faster than the wider global economy at 2.4%.
According to WTTC’s research, the region continues to benefit from resilient domestic travel demand and comparatively lower exposure to disruption linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with affected transit routes and source markets playing a smaller role than in other regions.
Ecuador is expected to lead the region with Travel & Tourism GDP growth of 11.6%, while Bolivia is projected to grow 10.3%, supported by a 25.8% surge in international visitor spending. Argentina’s Travel & Tourism sector is forecast to grow 4.9% in 2026, while Colombia is projected to record growth of 5.7%, reinforcing the region’s broad-based momentum.
Brazil, one of the region’s largest travel and tourism markets, is forecast to continue growing in 2026, with travel and tourism GDP projected to increase 2.1%, while international visitor spending is expected to rise 3%.
