Foreign tourism income fell 11.3% in April 2026 compared to the same month last year, and on this occasion the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (Inguat), apart from arguing that the dates on which it fell influenced Easter weekalso attributes it to the rise in fuel prices derived from the conflict in the Middle East.
Regarding the behavior in April, the entity argues that this year the Easter holiday period occurred during the first week of that month and that historically the tourist flow tends to decrease in the subsequent weeks.
However, this year he added another factor, and said that the international impact derived from the increase in fuel prices, caused by tensions and conflicts in the Middle East.
In this regard, the institute explained in a bulletin that this scenario has generated pressure on air and land transportation costs in different international markets, which temporarily affects the travel dynamics and mobility decisions of some tourism segments, especially on regional and short-distance routes.
The no.Number of foreign visitors who entered the country during Holy Week in 2026 It reached 126,565, which represents 15% less than the 148,409 registered in 2025, according to Inguat data released last month.
Regarding timing, in 2025 Holy Week was from April 13 to 20, while in 2026 it began on March 29 and lasted until April 5; That is, part of this high season covered the last days of March.
Meanwhile, the increase in fuel began during March and has remained fluctuating, but with higher prices than the previous season. This is derived from the conflict in the Middle East, which worsened at the end of February.
The quarter
During the first four months of 2026, Guatemala received 1 million 126 thousand 254 non-resident visitors, which represented a growth of 2.1% compared to the same period in 2025, when 1 million 102 thousand 778 international arrivals were registered, made Inguat known.
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The figure reflects that growth lost dynamism since in the first four months of 2025 it grew 5.2%, reaching 1 million 048 thousand 039 foreign tourists.
The entity states that the results reflect a positive and sustained behavior of incoming tourism, driven mainly by the growth of strategic markets of North America, Europe and Latin America.
By month, January 2026 closed with a 9% increase in international arrivals; February grew 7% and March 6%, figures that reflect a favorable trend during much of the period, although April shows the aforementioned drop of 11.3%.
Priority markets
In that period, growth was reported in most of the main tourist issuing markets to the country, as mentioned by Inguat, which cites the following data:
- The United States recorded an increase of 13%
- Honduras, 56%
- Mexico grew 23%
- Colombia increased 28%
- Nicaragua, 19%
- Canada, 20%
- Costa Rica, 5%
- France, 9%
- From El Salvador, however, there is a 12% drop
Inguat argues that the figures reflect the growing interest of long-distance markets and travelers with greater average length of stay and spending capacity.
And, in the case of El Salvador, it attributes that the behavior is mainly associated with the temporary reduction in short-stay land trips after Easter.
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“The results show a positive evolution in the profile of the international visitor who arrives in the country. Guatemala is attracting more and more tourists from North America and Europe, segments that tend to stay more nights, consume more services and generate greater economic benefits in destinations and communities,” explains the institution, stating that the international tourism promotion strategy has been strengthened with advertising campaigns in priority markets, as well as participation in specialized fairs, business conferences and commercial alliances.