US tourists lead the way in arrivals during the first three months of the year, with 270,895 Americans, or 11% more than the 243,264 Americans that came in 2004. Traffic from Canada declined 3%, going from 224,145 travelers in 2004 to 216,415 for the first quarter in 2005. Forty-four more Venezuelans came than last year, for an increase from 5,677 in 2004 to 8,179 for the first three months in 2005. Nevertheless, less Puerto Ricans visited, going from 5,835 in 2004 to 5,178 in 2005.
From Europe, France lead with 109,639 French travelers, up 1.5% over 2004?s 107,990. Some 70,510 Germans visited in 2005, up 16.5% over last year?s 60,484. 1.7% more Spaniards came this year than last, or 44,537 compared to 43,792 in 2004. 7.1% more Italians visited, or 41,487 up from 38,720. From the United Kingdom, traffic was up 2%, with 40,135 arrivals, compared to 39,334 for the first quarter in 2004. Dutch tourists declined, going from 13,532 in 2004 to 12,098 in 2005, or a 10.5% decrease. Likewise, travel from Switzerland also dropped, this time 11%, going from 11,651 in 2004 to 10,373 so far this year. Swedish tourism was up, though, with 6,275 arrivals compared to 4,376 in 2005, for a healthy 43% increase.