Cities are the driving force behind the recovery of tourism sectors and economies around the world. That’s according to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which says tourism to major world cities is a powerful engine of growth for the recovering industry.
According to the findings of the Economic Impact of Cities Report (EIR), these hubs are popular tourism hotspots, both as destinations in their own right and as gateways to other tourism hotspots in countries.
Travel and tourism have been severely impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in major cities as countries closed their borders. As borders reopened, leisure travelers shifted from the big metropolitan areas to less populated, coastal and rural destinations, leading to competition for the economies of international cities.
Thousands of hotels, restaurants and attractions in cities around the world have been forced to close and thousands of jobs have been lost as businesses try to stay open during this time. However, the EIR shows that leisure and business travelers are returning to the cities as their attractiveness as iconic travel destinations is gradually rebounding, in large part due to their role as business hubs for foreign visitors.
Latin America is no exception. In 2022, some of Latin America’s biggest cities were among the favorites of travelers from around the world. Thanks to their rich history and culture, lively streets and entertainment options, and the high quality of their hotels and restaurants, the following five destinations were the most visited destinations this year according to a ranking by Despegar.
The platform helps travelers put together their ideal trip and is available in the United States of America, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Buenos Aires was the most popular travel destination. More than 1.5 million international tourists and 5.3 million domestic visitors visited Argentina’s large, cosmopolitan capital this year, according to projections by the city’s tourism bureau data observatory.
These figures exceed the expectations of the targets set at the beginning of the year: 1.15 million international tourists and 4 million national tourists. This sector reactivation will leave more than US$1.8 billion in the city’s economy – impacting gastronomy, transport and culture, among other sectors – with average spending of US$124 for national tourists US$776 for international tourists.
Likewise, the recovery in hotel occupancy compared to 2019 averaged 58% for international tourists and 101% for domestic tourists.
“Argentina has huge tourism potential, with world-class destinations across the country. Tourism is undoubtedly one of our federal growth engines, capable of creating thousands of quality jobs for our population and increasing our income, since it also has a positive impact on other areas such as gastronomy, transport and culture,” assured Prime Minister Horacio Rodríguez Larreta.
SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Chile is an option for all tastes. From the far north with the world’s driest desert to the south with perpetual ice and incredible waterfalls, Chile has something for everyone. Adventure, urban, romantic and nature tourism are just some of the options available in this Andean country.
According to tourism industry estimates, Chile could take four and a half years to return to pre-pandemic numbers, when the country received six million foreign tourists each year. But the capital, Santiago, which was not among travelers’ favorite cities before the pandemic, has become one of the continent’s most popular travel destinations in 2022.
A strategic point of connection with other destinations in Latin America, it offers visitors exceptional places to enjoy unique experiences in streets and neighborhoods of great historical, cultural and gastronomic wealth. Travelers can stroll through the Cerro Santa Lucía district, the emblematic Parque San Cristóbal or Casa La Chascona, famous for the work of Nobel Prize winner Pablo Neruda.
MEXICO CITY
The fascinating capital of Mexico is an extraordinary experience for tourists who want to explore a wealth of historical sites. The most visited attractions in Mexico City include the Archaeological Site Templo Mayor, the Cathedral, the Palace of Fine Arts, the Angel of Independence and the Chapultepec Forest.
According to the Mexican Cultural Information System (SIC), there are about 156 museums in the former federal district, spread across different areas of the capital.
Don’t miss the already mentioned Templo Mayor. This archaeological area and its museum is located in the city’s Zocalo. Approx. 977,275 visits are registered annually. On the esplanade, the vessels of the ancient pre-Hispanic civilizations are exhibited, such as the drums and the rattles of Tlaloc and Huitzilopochtli.
Those who love nightlife will find many ways to have fun. Mexico City is so diverse that you can experience different types of tourism here, e.g. adventure tourism, gastronomic tourism, religious tourism, business tourism, archaeological tourism, rural tourism and ecological tourism.
BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA
The Colombian capital is one of the most visited in Latin America. Cultures and traditions from across the country meet in Bogotá, allowing visitors to absorb all of Colombia’s cultural riches.
Bogotá is about 2,600 meters above sea level and impresses with its architectural wealth and cultural heritage. During their stay, travelers can visit emblematic places such as the Plaza de Bolivar, the Primada Cathedral and the Casa de Nariño – the seat of government -, the Chorro de Quevedo – a square known for selling the traditional corn drink chicha – and the Visit Cerro de Monserrate (Monserrate Hill).
Visiting Cerro Montesarrate is one of the most exciting experiences for visitors who can take the cable car to the top, enjoy the most famous viewpoint in the country and admire the city and the beautiful Andean hills that surround it. You can also visit the famous Botero Museum in a beautiful colonial house.
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
This dynamic and largest city in Brazil was one of the most visited cities for national and Latin American tourists in 2022. It’s one of the most colourful, artistic and cultural cities in Latin America, with an unbeatable gastronomic offer and a street art center synonymous with innovation and counterculture.
The richness of the city’s spirit is largely due to the glorious diversity that adorns its streets. Here lives the largest community of Japanese outside of Japan and of Italians outside of Italy. A large Arab community also settled here years ago. This multiculturalism can only be found in cities like New York or London. But in São Paulo you breathe it in a different way.
It’s also one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world, and same-sex couples walk the streets holding hands with a pride and freedom found nowhere else.
Vila Madalena is one of the great must-see attractions. The neighborhood is known for its street art, youthful bars, designer boutiques, up-and-coming artist studios, vintage design shops and hippie spirit.
Another attraction are the skyscrapers that tower like giant titans over the skyline of São Paulo and demonstrate their power from above. The most famous are the Edifício Itália and the Altino Arantes, which are located in the historic city center.
Oscar Niemeyer left his mark here. Brazil’s most famous architect was one of the most renowned in the world and his works in this city include the buildings of Parque Ibirapuera – the city’s big green lung – and the Copan.
The Jardins neighborhood is arguably the coolest in Brazil’s fashion and culture capital. It’s the playground of locals and tourists alike, who find the city’s most exclusive shops and gastronomic offerings on its streets. The shops on Rua Oscar Freire rival New York’s Fifth Avenue. Not to be missed is a walk along Avenida Paulista and to the Art Museum of São Paulo, which houses one of the most important collections in Latin America.
With information from latinapress