Tourism: Dominican Republic passes Brazil

Miami (Latinvex).- Dominican Republic passes Brazil asLatin America’s second tourism earner, according to a Latinvex analysis of newdata from the World Tourism Organization.

Latinvex is a Miami-based publication specializing in newsabout Latin America business.

With tourism revenues growing 8.1 percent last year to US$6.1billion, the Dominican Republic is now the second-largest tourism earner inLatin America after Mexico.

Brazil, the previous number two, saw its tourism receiptsfall 14.6 percent to US$5.8 billion.

The Dominican Republic continues to be Latin America’schampion when it comes to receipts as a percent of its GDP, with a ratio of 9.1percent.

Meanwhile, when it comes to receipts per visitor (US$1,093)it ranks fourth in Latin America, the same position it holds in terms ofarrivals.

The Dominican Republic last year received 5.6 millioninternational arrivals, up 8.9 percent compared with 2014.

All in all, the number of international arrivals to Latin Americagrew by 7.5 percent last year to 97.1 million visitors, while receipts grew 4.6percent to $82.9 billion, according to our analysis.

Receipts per visitor reached US$854, a 3.3 percent declinefrom 2014.

Panama and Colombia saw the strongest gains in real growthof tourism receipts, while Paraguay posted the strongest percentage growth.

In terms of arrivals, Mexico saw the strongest real growth,while Paraguay again posted the highest percentage growth, according toLatinvex.

Mexico remains the undisputed king of tourism in LatinAmerica, thanks to receiving 32.1 million tourists last year, who spent US$17.7billion.