According to Alí Padrón, Venezuela’s Minister of Tourism, the nation’s tourism industry has recovered to 80% of its previous capacity, despite challenges from the global COVID-19 pandemic and U.S. sanctions.
Both factors significantly impacted the sector, Padrón said.
However, there was a marked improvement in the tourism industry in 2022, with recovery figures reaching nearly 60%.
The current year shows a further progression, with the recovery rate now at 80%.
Venezuela witnessed 656,000 international tourist arrivals in 2022, and projections for the current year indicate more than one million international visitors.
This recovery and subsequent expansion of services can be attributed to a combined effort from various sectors of Venezuelan society, including governmental policy, private sector involvement, and community organization.
The ministry is also implementing a training program to provide direct services to visitors, aiming to train 60,000 individuals this year.
Furthermore, an awareness program is in place to educate locals about tourism, targeting more than one million Venezuelans to foster a welcoming environment for foreign visitors.