The negative press reports earlier this year on American tourists dying in the country has had a detriment effect on the tourism industry. According to Economist Henri Hebrard in an interview with the Listin Diario newspaper, the country has had losses of around US$200 million from June to September this year, due to the decrease in American tourist arrivals. Hebrard explained that the average amount spent by these tourists is around US$1,200 per trip and multiplying this by the reduction in numbers leads him to that figure.
Hebrard said this situation is one of the reasons the peso is depreciating to the US dollar. He pointed out that around 20% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) depends on tourism. In addition to the negative press, the collapse of the Thomas Cook Group is leading to further problems over the winter season.
According to the latest figures from the Central Bank, at the end of September, the number of non-residents coming from North America was down by 1.7%, representing 49,941 fewer air arrivals. This was 33,148 fewer travelers from the United States and 18,538 fewer travelers from Canada.
Looking at the air arrivals of tourists from Europe, these were also down, with 46,689 fewer air arrivals for a decrease of 4.7%. The main reason for the decline is that visitors are down from the United Kingdom (-24,122), Germany (-18,040), Russia (-7,752), Sweden (-4,512), and France (-4,328), among others.
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Listin Diario
16 October 2019