According to statistics from the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism (Inguat), The arrival of foreign tourism has grown around 1.1% in accumulated figures from January to May 2026, but During the month of May it fell almost 4%.
Inguat states that it maintains the year’s goal of 8% and 9% growth in tourism and foreign exchange, respectively; But the institution also explained that a technical analysis of the projections is carried out every month and, if deemed necessary, adjustments will be made.
Regarding the figures and behavior in 2026, Rolando Schweikert, president of the Guatemalan Chamber of Tourism (Camtur), explains, in the excerpt of this interview, the panorama of national and foreign tourism, and what factors are influencing it.
What do you think about the behavior of foreign tourism figures this year?
It went down quite a bit (during May). We have seen that air tickets are more expensive to Guatemala. For example, from a part of the United States to Costa Rica there are rates of US$350, US$375 or US$400, while to Guatemala it is almost double; So that influences a lot, it affects us a lot, because, no matter how much Inguat goes to promote, people also look for which country is cheaper to travel by air transport.
The other is the theme of the 2026 World Cup; It really hit home in May, June and a little bit of July, because many people visit these places (the headquarters) or no longer travel, but stay in these destinations.
We have heard from several entrepreneurs who are partners in the value chain, such as restaurants, hotels and tour operators, that there has been a lot of decline.
What did rise was the issuing issue (tourism); The travel agencies that sold packages for these months may have been due to the World Cup theme.
Inguat explained that the growth is moderate and they attribute it, among other factors, to the strategy of attracting more tourists from markets that spend more nights in the country and have more spending capacity; However, currencies only grew almost 1% in that period. How do you observe these aspects?
It’s a good strategy because we also want more visitors who come to spend. I have seen that they have participated in luxury fairs, but we cannot let go of the people who come to the destination either.
The World Cup issue didn’t help us much.
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Normally (tourism) is low for these dates, but not as low as the season is now. There is a lot of offer to other destinations in different parts of the United States in the season when most people travel to Guatemala for vacations, and they also preferred to go for rates or more offers, both for El Salvador and for other destinations like Costa Rica, which we have so close. This decision is taking place in youth tourism; Many come for social tourism, to churches or to places where they come for five days to build a school and stay for three days doing tourism. Then, many businessmen told us that they had chosen other destinations due to the issue of air ticket prices.
For us it is very important that the Inguat Be betting on the luxury segment or organized groups that have a higher level of spending, but it is also important to have the other type of tourism that comes to know Guatemala, because we are a country that makes itself known by word of mouth, since students come to help with a church or a camp and they return with the idea that they are going to return with their parents and do tourism with a bigger budget and with family.
How do you foresee the end of the year in international tourism?
We hope the numbers go up.
From when do you see that the arrival of foreign tourism could improve?
It is expected that in July, because the World Cup is going to end in the middle of the month and I think people would already start traveling.
What has been the behavior of national tourism?
It is the holiday season for several schools and national tourism helps boost the sector.
However, the climate issue has also had a significant impact. For example, on the Island of Flores, because of the bridge issueit is important that the mayor’s office takes note of the matter, because it is a chain: Inguat is going to promote at different world fairs and the (tourism) operator goes, but this affects a little because sometimes (the tourist) says that he specifically wants to stay on the Island of Flores and, when they are notified of the inconvenience, his desire to travel diminishes a little.
Is tourism already having effects on Flores Island?
Many businessmen who are members of the Chamber have reported to us that they have had sick leave and have already cut staff, which is worrying. There is no estimate, but it is important that actions be taken.
What other places are having problems with internal tourism visits due to the weather?
In domestic tourism, La Antigua has had movement, not as expected, since it has decreased due to weather and traffic issues; That does not motivate national tourism, but the wedding and that fills (occupancy) several hotels, from the smallest to the largest.
In Sololá, Atitlán and Quetzaltenango, Due to weather reasons it has been low; They postpone their trips and there is also the issue of the World Cup.
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How do you foresee the behavior of the rest of the year for national tourism?
We hope it goes up. Let’s hope that in June and July people will be traveling because they are already mid-year vacations for several schools.
The long break of the holiday and the weekend For us it is important; I think they are good practices for national tourism that travels with family, for beaches, for Petén; There are destinations for all types of bags. It is positive for all entrepreneurs in the tourism value chain and all industries.
And now the new Xochi highway is going to help a lot so that there will not be a long wait on the road, since before it was between eight or nine hours.