Latin America is registering millions of displacements, high hotel occupancy, and an increase in tourist income this Holy Week, with a greater weight of internal tourism and the consolidation of new destinations linked to nature or wellness. Preliminary figures reflect the growing weight of tourism in the region during these dates. In Mexico, wellness and aesthetic tourism is growing, with an annual projection of 17% until 2028, while in Ecuador and Costa Rica, nature is gaining ground, such as the Amazon or mountain tourism. Likewise, cultural and religious events continue to be a strong attraction. Internal tourism is consolidated as a dominant trend in countries like Colombia, Venezuela, or Paraguay, driven by factors such as the cost of international travel or the economic situation. However, there is also a rebound in trips abroad to destinations like Argentina, where the growth of international trips reaches 40%, favored by the exchange rate and the search for better prices in neighboring countries. Another trend is the rise of emerging destinations and differentiated experiences. In Chile, the rise in fuel prices could cause a drop of up to 25% in hotel reservations, with an occupancy projected at 56% in Valparaíso, below the previous year. In addition, local studies reflect that a majority of travelers plan to reduce their expenses during the holiday, which points to a more austere and selective tourism. In Bolivia, the boost to tourism passes through structural measures such as visa facilitation and international promotion, with the objective of increasing the flow of visitors in the coming years. The growth of Mérida, in the southeast of the country, stands out as an emerging destination, with an interannual increase of 18.5%. In Colombia, the Government expects the mobilization of more than 12 million travelers, with a growth of 7% in land transport and up to 4% in air transport, which confirms the weight of internal tourism as a driver of the sector. Peru calculates an economic impact of between 220 and 261 million dollars, with 1.9 million travelers and an average expenditure per person of about 130 dollars, 7.14% more than last year, driven by the increase in service costs. In Ecuador, around 800,000 trips are projected, a hotel occupancy close to 45% and an economic impact of 70 million dollars, above the 54 million registered in 2025. In Argentina, according to sources from the Hotel and Tourism Association consulted by EFE, «the reservation levels surveyed anticipate a favorable result in hotel occupancy in the country's main tourist destinations, with special dynamism in Patagonia (south)», where occupancy levels reach 87% in some destinations, in line with the strong movement of 2.7 million people registered in 2025. Panama estimates income of between 100 and 200 million dollars, with a hotel occupancy of at least 85%, while in the Casco Antiguo of the capital, around 300,000 visitors attracted by religious tourism are expected. Venezuela projects an occupancy of 90% in key areas such as Nueva Esparta, where the islands of Margarita, Coche, and Cubagua are located, in which it expects an increase of more than 20% in tourist activity compared to the previous Holy Week and the mobilization of 13 million people. In Central America, El Salvador expects the arrival of more than 145,000 foreign tourists (+4.3% interannual), with an economic impact close to 10% of GDP, while Costa Rica estimates a hotel occupancy of 75%, with peaks of 91% in Guanacaste. The Jesuit missions, declared World Heritage by Unesco in 1993, and the municipality of San Ignacio, in the department of Misiones (south), which hosts the Tañarandy torch procession, are the main tourist destinations in Paraguay during Holy Week.
Internal tourism and new destinations
Beyond the figures, Holy Week this year confirms changes in traveler behavior.
Photo EFE
Internal tourism and new destinations boost Holy Week in Latin America
Brazil projects a hotel occupancy of 78% and highlights destinations such as the beaches of northern Rio de Janeiro or the Iguazú Falls, while the most populous state of São Paulo expects revenues of about 505 million dollars. Brazil has registered 2.6 million foreign visitors in the first bimonthly period of 2026, marking a record trend of increase. Mexico expects the arrival of 4.03 million tourists, 2.6% more than in 2025, with a hotel occupancy of 63.85% and estimated income from expenses of 3,102 million dollars. In Brazil, the representation of the Passion of Christ in Nova Jerusalém, in the northeast of the country, brings together thousands of visitors since 1968, while in Quito or Antigua Guatemala the traditional processions mark the tourist pulse. The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (CTPR) promotes religious tourism this Holy Week with a series of initiatives such as the event 'The Sounds of Puerto Rico: Worship Edition' in San Juan, which this April 5 integrates music, culture, and entertainment for the whole family.
Sector challenges
The sector also faces challenges.
