The year 2011 brought positive outcomes to Latin America and the Caribbean, good enough for a solid 5 percent growth in the region’s GDP. And these results engulf the entire tourism chain, from airlift and hotel occupancy rates all the way to investment.

World tourism grew 4.4 percent in 2011, up to 981 million travelers. The Americas were up to par with that figure (4 percent) with 6 million more arrivals for a grand total of 156 million trippers. Central America and the Caribbean also showed a 4 percent uptick, while North America put on a 3 percent increase and South America soared into a whopping double-digit growth, the highest worldwide. Airlift in Latin America climbed 11 percent, with record highs in sales for Airbus –a good token of the aviation sector’s dynamism- as the subcontinent improved in terms of intra and extra regional connectivity, thanks in part to the expansion of such airlines as TAM, LAN, GOL, AviancaTaca, Aeromexico and Copa, as well as to the opening of new routes by companies based in North America, Europe and Asia. More air routes and the increase of flights bank on multidestination, the good going of emerging markets and the local outbound markets. Brazil leads the pack in the Mercosur bloc, while Colombia is the top market for Ecuador. In the case of Cuba, Russia, the American South Cone (mostly Argentina) and Mexico are the new undisputed stars. As tourism flows out of South America land in the Caribbean, airlift also rises in that region, either nonstop or through the Panama hub. According to Routes Americas 2012, the passenger flow between both regions is growing at an annual rate of 8 percent. Even though Mexico has lost part of its market share, the cruise sector kept on clambering in Latin America and the Caribbean –the latter is the world’s leading cruise destination. According to the International Cruise Line Association –this entity that gathers 26 companies carried over 16 million passengers in 2011- over a third of the 19.2 million cruise passengers worldwide sailed down the waters of the Caribbean Sea. As far as destinations are concerned, there was an overall upward trend. Mexico grew 3.5 percent as it reeled in 22.6 million foreign tourists. Brazil (up 8 percent) and Argentina moved beyond the 5-million-visitor mark with some $6 billion worth of revenue. Other nations that also put good numbers on the board were Peru (up 10 percent with 2.5 million visitors and $3.3 billion), Chile (up 16 percent with 3 million visitors), Colombia (roughly 3 million visitors), Dominican Republic (up 4.4 percent with 4.3 million sunbathers and $4.4 billion), Panama (2 million tourists and $2.5 billion) and Cuba (up 7.3 percent with 2.7 million holidaymakers). All in all, the Caribbean region grew 3.3 percent with a grand total of 23.8 million tourist arrivals. In 2012, Latin American and Caribbean travel destinations must pay heed to all situations and processes, like the world economic crisis, the slow recovery of the U.S. market and a cash-strapped Eurozone, with the corresponding ripple effects on jobs and expenses, the oil prices, the UK APD, the expansion of the emerging markets and their middle-class sectors, and last but not least, the prospects of slower economic growth for China. It’ll be necessary to keep up the investment pace in promotion and marketing in the face of increasing competitiveness and focus on such segments as business travel and MICE. Fostering cooperation among governments, and between the former and the private sector, as well as the diversification of the tourist offer and the markets -especially within the regional boundaries- are actions to follow up on. Tourism will no doubt remain on the rise, yet the scope of its expansion will depend on factors like the ones described above.