The Americas continued to expand in the first half of 2026, according to the latest UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer, with travelers increasingly turning toward Latin American destinations.

International tourist arrivals across the Americas rose by 2% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. Growth, however, has been uneven. Latin America has emerged as the strongest performer, while North America has been held back by more subdued results in both Canada and the United States.

North America remains the Americas’ dominant tourism market, accounting for more than 60% of regional arrivals. Its performance in 2026, however, has been shaped by contrasting trends across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Mexico stands out as the region’s strongest performer. UN Tourism data showed international arrivals rising by 7% in the first quarter of 2026. The country also benefited from additional international exposure as a co-host of the FIFA World Cup, held from June 11 to July 19.

The United States, by contrast, has struggled to translate the World Cup into sustained inbound growth. International visitor arrivals to the US fell by 5.5% in 2025, with weakness continuing into 2026. By June, total arrivals were down 0.4%, with the overall figure supported by particularly strong growth from Mexico, where arrivals increased by 14.5%.

Canadian arrivals to the US fell by 8%, while overseas arrivals declined by 4.4% year over year, highlighting the challenges facing the country’s inbound tourism sector. Canada recorded more positive results at the beginning of the year, with arrivals up 3.5% in the first quarter of 2026. Overall, the figures point to a North American tourism market in which Mexico is currently delivering the strongest growth.

International arrivals to the Caribbean slipped by 0.1% in the first half of 2026. Anguilla ranked among the world’s fastest-growing destinations, with arrivals up 21% in the first half of the year, while the US Virgin Islands recorded growth of 16%.

Grenada and the Cayman Islands followed, with arrivals rising by 12% and 11% respectively. The Dominican Republic, the Caribbean’s largest tourism destination, also delivered strong growth, with international arrivals up 10%.

Central America recorded particularly strong growth, with international arrivals up 18%. El Salvador led the way with a 37% increase, while Panama recorded growth of 17%.

South America also produced several standout performances. Paraguay led the region with a 34% increase in international arrivals in the first half of 2026.

Brazil also performed strongly, welcoming 5.26 million international tourists across all ports of entry during the first six months of the year. International arrivals by air increased by 13.3%, further underlining the country’s growing appeal to overseas visitors.

Key figures

+2% — growth in international tourist arrivals across the Americas in H1 2026.

+18% — growth in international arrivals to Central America.