Mexico, Jamaica, and Many Other American and Caribbean Countries Are Experiencing Changing Trends in Holiday Travel and Business Trips: Here Are the New Realities Revealed!

The US, Mexico, Canada, Brazil and more face a tourism shake-up as hotels and travel companies feel the impact of changing visitor arrivals, shifting holiday preferences, corporate trips, conventions, and family travel. A dramatic transformation is unfolding across the Americas. International demand is moving in different directions. Some destinations are attracting more holidaymakers, while others face weaker overseas bookings. Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, Expedia, and major restaurant operators are navigating this evolving landscape. Currency fluctuations, airline connectivity, and changing visitor spending are reshaping commercial opportunities. The consequences extend beyond accommodation, influencing local restaurants, tour operators, employment, and regional economies.

Country-by-Country Comparison of Changing Travel Purposes

North America

Why Are International Travel Patterns Changing Across the Americas in 2026?

International travel across the Americas is entering a period of significant adjustment as destinations compete for different types of visitors. Holidaymakers continue to support major tourism economies, but business travelers, convention delegates, and people visiting relatives also influence airline networks, hotel demand, and local spending.

According to UN Tourism, the Americas welcomed approximately 218 million international tourists in 2025, representing annual growth of 1%. However, regional performance varied considerably. South America recorded growth of 7%, while Central America expanded by 5%. The Caribbean remained broadly stable.

These differences reflect changing demand, economic conditions, international air connectivity, and destination competitiveness.

Travel purposes are also becoming increasingly important in understanding tourism performance. A destination attracting additional vacationers may experience different spending patterns from a city receiving corporate visitors or international conference delegates.

Consequently, overall arrival figures alone cannot explain how tourism demand is evolving across individual countries.

How Is the United States Experiencing Changes in Holiday and Business Travel?

The United States continues to attract international visitors for vacations, corporate activities, conventions, education, and family reunions. However, the composition of inbound travel reveals important differences between these segments.

According to the US Department of Commerce’s 2025 Survey of International Air Travelers, holidays accounted for approximately 57.1% of surveyed inbound international air travel. Visiting friends and relatives represented 22.2%, while business travel accounted for 16.4%.

These figures demonstrate the importance of leisure tourism while highlighting the considerable contribution of non-vacation travel.

Cities such as New York, Orlando, Las Vegas, Chicago, and Los Angeles attract different visitor groups through entertainment, commerce, cultural attractions, and international events.

Convention centers and exhibition venues support hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, and other businesses throughout the year.

Meanwhile, international family connections continue to generate travel demand beyond traditional holiday periods.

The United States therefore remains a diversified tourism market, although the available figures describe travel-purpose shares rather than growth in each category.

Why Is Mexico Emerging as a Powerful Leisure and Family Travel Market?

Mexico’s international tourism industry continues to demonstrate the importance of holiday travel, particularly through its established coastal destinations and cultural attractions.

Official Mexican tourism statistics indicate that the country received approximately 24.5 million international tourists during the first six months of 2026, representing growth of 4.6% compared with the corresponding period.

Separate January 2026 statistics show that 74.1% of non-border international tourists visited for holidays, recreation, or leisure. Another 21.8% traveled to visit friends or relatives, while 2.9% arrived for professional or business purposes.

These figures reveal a market strongly oriented toward leisure while maintaining substantial family-related demand.

Cancún, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta remain prominent holiday destinations, while Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey support business activities and professional events.

Mexico also benefits from extensive family connections with the United States.

Its combination of resorts, cultural attractions, commercial centers, and international air services helps sustain several distinct categories of travel.

What Is Driving Canada’s Changing International Visitor Market?

Canada is experiencing a notable shift in the geographic composition of its international visitors, although this does not automatically establish a corresponding change in travel purposes.

Statistics Canada reported that trips by US residents to Canada declined by 4.1% during the fourth quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, trips by overseas residents increased by 13.1%.

The contrasting figures suggest that Canada’s international visitor market is becoming less uniform across its major source regions.

Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, and Calgary continue to attract travelers for vacations, corporate activities, conferences, and family visits.

Canada’s national parks, winter recreation opportunities, cultural destinations, and major urban attractions support leisure demand.

Its commercial centers also generate professional travel, particularly in finance, technology, energy, and international trade.

Family connections and educational institutions contribute additional travel activity.

For tourism operators, the important development is the changing balance between American and overseas visitors, which could influence marketing strategies, airline capacity, and accommodation demand.

Central America

How Is Brazil Strengthening Its Position in South American Tourism?

Brazil is among the most significant markets to monitor as South America’s international tourism sector expands.

According to Embratur, Brazil welcomed approximately 9.2 million international visitors in 2025, while international arrivals by air increased by 33.2%.

These figures indicate substantial momentum in the country’s inbound tourism market.

Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, and other destinations attract visitors through beaches, cultural attractions, entertainment, and major events.

However, Brazil’s international travel economy extends beyond conventional vacations.

São Paulo serves as an important commercial and financial center, generating demand for corporate meetings, professional visits, trade exhibitions, and international conventions.

Rio de Janeiro also hosts major business gatherings alongside cultural and sporting events.

International family connections contribute another travel segment, while regional visitors support tourism activity across different parts of the country.

Brazil’s expanding international visitor numbers demonstrate strong overall demand, although the reported statistics do not establish identical growth across leisure, business, and family-related travel.

Why Is Colombia Attracting Attention for Leisure and Convention Travel?

Colombia is developing a diversified international tourism market supported by cultural attractions, commercial activity, and international events.

Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena, and other destinations attract visitors for different reasons, ranging from vacations and cultural experiences to business meetings and family reunions.

Research published by Bogotá’s tourism authorities provides an indication of this diversity.

Among air reservations for May through October 2025, approximately 72.9% were associated with leisure travel. Visiting friends and relatives accounted for 12.6%, business travel represented 7.4%, and group travel contributed 7.1%.

These figures refer to reservations rather than completed visitor arrivals, but they demonstrate the range of travel purposes supporting the capital’s tourism market.

Bogotá remains a center for corporate activity and international meetings, while Cartagena and Medellín offer distinctive leisure experiences.

Colombia’s migration authorities have also identified renewed momentum in international event-related travel.

Together, these developments suggest opportunities for airlines, hotels, convention organizers, and tourism businesses serving different visitor segments.

How Are Costa Rica and Panama Developing Different Tourism Markets?

Costa Rica and Panama illustrate how neighboring Central American countries can attract international visitors through contrasting tourism strengths.

Costa Rica is widely associated with nature tourism, wildlife, adventure experiences, and wellness travel. Its national parks, rainforests, beaches, and biodiversity attract visitors seeking outdoor experiences.

Business tourism also contributes to demand, particularly around San José, where commercial activity and international meetings support professional travel.

Panama, meanwhile, combines leisure tourism with a prominent role in regional commerce and aviation.

Panama City attracts corporate travelers through financial services, logistics, trade, and international business connections.

The country also hosts exhibitions, professional meetings, and conventions, while its shopping districts, beaches, and cultural attractions support leisure tourism.

Both countries benefit from regional family visits and international connectivity.

UN Tourism reported that Central America recorded 5% growth in international tourist arrivals during 2025. However, that regional increase should not be interpreted as an identical growth rate for Costa Rica and Panama individually.

Why Are Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras Important for Family-Related Travel?

Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras represent important Central American markets where international family connections operate alongside holiday and business tourism.

Migration and established overseas communities create demand for visits to friends and relatives, particularly involving the United States.

These journeys can differ from conventional vacations because travelers may stay with family members, visit smaller communities, or travel during important personal and cultural occasions.

Guatemala also attracts leisure visitors through Antigua, Lake Atitlán, archaeological attractions, and natural landscapes.

El Salvador has increased its international destination marketing around surfing, beaches, and coastal tourism.

Honduras offers diving and beach tourism in the Bay Islands, while San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa support commercial travel.

The three countries therefore serve different combinations of leisure, family, and professional travel.

Although VFR tourism is an important structural segment, comparable recent statistics are needed before determining which country is experiencing the fastest growth in family-related international arrivals.

South America

How Are Argentina, Chile, and Peru Responding to Changing Visitor Demand?

Argentina, Chile, and Peru remain important South American destinations, each combining distinctive leisure attractions with urban business activity.

Argentina attracts international visitors to Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Mendoza, and other destinations known for culture, landscapes, and food tourism.

Buenos Aires also serves as a center for corporate meetings, professional conferences, and international exhibitions.

Chile benefits from demand for Patagonia, the Atacama Desert, wine tourism, and outdoor experiences. Santiago supports corporate travel and professional events connected with the country’s commercial activities.

Peru’s tourism appeal is strongly associated with Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, and its cultural heritage.

Lima also attracts business travelers and international meetings.

Across these countries, exchange rates, travel costs, airline connectivity, and economic conditions can influence international demand.

South America’s 7% increase in international tourist arrivals during 2025 provides a positive regional backdrop, but it does not establish equivalent performance across all three countries or travel-purpose categories.

Caribbean countries

Why Are the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the Bahamas Facing Different Tourism Opportunities?

The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and the Bahamas remain major Caribbean leisure destinations, but their visitor markets are not identical.

The Dominican Republic attracts international holidaymakers through Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, and other resort destinations. Santo Domingo also supports business travel, while established overseas family networks contribute to visiting-friends-and-relatives demand.

Jamaica combines beach tourism with music, cultural attractions, and family connections involving the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Kingston supports corporate travel, while Montego Bay attracts holidaymakers and convention groups.

The Bahamas depends heavily on leisure tourism, including resort stays, island holidays, and cruise-related travel. Nassau also supports financial and professional services.

Caribbean tourism statistics indicate that South American source-market arrivals increased by 23.7% during 2025, while Canadian arrivals declined and US-origin arrivals remained broadly stable.

This development highlights a changing geographic mix of visitors, although it does not establish which travel-purpose category experienced the largest increase.

How Are Trinidad and Tobago and Other Caribbean Nations Diversifying Travel Demand?

Trinidad and Tobago offers a distinctive Caribbean travel market because business activity plays an important role alongside holidays, cultural events, and family visits.

Its energy and industrial sectors generate professional travel, while Port of Spain supports commercial meetings and conferences.

Carnival and other cultural attractions contribute to leisure demand, while Tobago attracts visitors seeking beaches and nature experiences.

Official statistics indicate that North American arrivals increased from 203,979 in 2024 to 221,825 in 2025.

Elsewhere, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada rely on varying combinations of resort tourism, premium holidays, regional visits, and diaspora connections.

Some destinations also attract incentive groups, corporate retreats, and specialist meetings.

These smaller markets illustrate the importance of tourism diversification.

However, differences in infrastructure, airline services, economic conditions, and visitor origins mean that business, convention, and family-related travel cannot be assumed to be growing at the same pace throughout the Caribbean.

Which American Countries Have the Strongest Statistical Evidence of Changing Travel Trends?

What Do These Changes Mean for Airlines, Hotels, and International Travel Businesses?

Changing travel patterns across the Americas create different commercial opportunities for airlines, hotels, travel agencies, and destination marketing organizations.

Leisure-oriented markets such as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica require strong vacation connectivity and accommodation options suited to holidaymakers.

Major commercial destinations such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Panama also depend on convenient flight schedules, conference facilities, and business-oriented hotels.

Countries with significant overseas family networks require connectivity that serves visiting-friends-and-relatives demand, which may extend beyond major resort destinations.

Convention tourism creates another opportunity because professional events can generate demand for accommodation, transportation, restaurants, and local services.

The changing composition of Canada’s inbound visitors and the Caribbean’s growing South American source market also underline the importance of geographic diversification.

For tourism businesses, understanding why visitors travel is increasingly valuable. It allows companies to tailor services, identify demand patterns, and reduce dependence on a single visitor category.

How Are Holiday, Business, Convention and Family Travel Patterns Changing?

What Is the Outlook for Holiday, Business, Convention, and Family Travel Across the Americas?

The Americas’ international tourism outlook remains varied, with different countries benefiting from distinct combinations of leisure demand, commercial activity, international events, and family connections.

Mexico and the United States demonstrate the continued importance of holiday travel, while Brazil’s expanding inbound market highlights South America’s growing international appeal.

Canada’s changing source-market composition illustrates how visitor origins can shift even when the underlying travel-purpose mix is less clear.

Colombia, Panama, and major American commercial centers continue to provide opportunities for business and convention tourism.

Meanwhile, Central American and Caribbean countries with established overseas communities retain important family-related travel markets.

The broader conclusion is that international tourism growth cannot be understood through arrival totals alone.

The countries best positioned to respond to changing demand will be those that recognize the different needs of vacationers, corporate travelers, convention delegates, and people visiting family and friends.

For the remainder of 2026, airline connectivity, affordability, destination competitiveness, and economic conditions will remain important influences on how these travel patterns develop.

Hotels and Resort Groups Affected by Changing Arrival Patterns

Changing international arrival patterns across the Americas are producing mixed results for major hotel groups in 2026. Marriott International reported a 7.9% increase in luxury RevPAR during the first half of 2026, alongside 4.6% growth across the US and Canada. Hilton demonstrated resilience with 4.7% US RevPAR growth, while IHG Hotels & Resorts recorded a 4.8% increase across the Americas. However, Hyatt faced challenges, including weaker demand in certain Mexican destinations and disruptions in Jamaica, contributing to a 1.2% decline in all-inclusive Net Package RevPAR. Meanwhile, Accor remains exposed to changing corporate and leisure demand across South America. Meliá, RIU, and Sandals depend heavily on international holidaymakers, making them sensitive to airline connectivity and Caribbean tourism fluctuations. Brazil’s Blue Tree Hotels could benefit from stronger domestic and regional travel. Overall, premium accommodation shows resilience, while resort-focused operators face greater uncertainty from shifting visitor demand.

Tour Operators and Travel Booking Companies Exposed to Shifting Demand

Expedia Group is responding to shifting international bookings and growing Brazilian domestic travel demand, while Booking Holdings faces changing accommodation preferences and destination choices. Despegar remains sensitive to currency fluctuations and variations in domestic and international bookings across Latin America. Meanwhile, CVC Corp and Mexico’s Grupo Xcaret could benefit from stronger leisure demand. Adventure specialists G Adventures and Intrepid Travel may gain from growing interest in nature-based tourism, cultural experiences, and small-group holidays. However, TUI Group faces potential challenges from airline capacity changes, resort demand fluctuations, and Caribbean travel disruptions. Corporate travel providers BCD Travel and American Express Global Business Travel are exposed to changing business-trip schedules, hotel prices, and convention activity. Overall, diversified operators may find new opportunities, although actual financial outcomes remain uncertain.

Restaurants and Food-Service Businesses Exposed to Tourism Changes

In the United States, Darden Restaurants and Rainforest Cafe are particularly exposed to convention activity, family vacations, and tourism-related spending. Restaurant Brands International, McDonald’s, and Starbucks may experience fluctuating customer traffic at airports, commercial districts, and popular tourist destinations. Across Latin America, Arcos Dorados and Alsea could benefit from stronger regional mobility and increasing visitor expenditure. Brazil’s Madero may gain from domestic holiday demand, while Fogo de Chão could attract additional premium dining customers through business and experience-led tourism. Meanwhile, Hard Rock Cafe remains sensitive to international arrivals and group tourism across major destinations. Overall, changing visitor volumes, travel purposes, and spending habits present both growth opportunities and commercial risks, although direct financial impacts on individual restaurant operators remain unverified.

Which American Countries Present the Greatest Hospitality Opportunities and Risks?

The United States faces weaker inbound demand, with overseas arrivals declining 5.8% through August, although luxury hotels remain resilient. Canada is experiencing shifting visitor markets, while Mexico’s 4.5% arrival growth supports leisure tourism despite resort volatility. Brazil benefits from domestic travel interest and substantial tourist spending on dining. Argentina’s hospitality sector remains sensitive to exchange-rate fluctuations, whereas Colombia attracts leisure and corporate visitors with differing spending habits. Panama’s expanding aviation connectivity supports business hotels, restaurants, and stopover tourism. Meanwhile, Jamaica faces hurricane-related disruptions affecting resorts and tourism services. The Dominican Republic remains dependent on international holidaymakers, while Costa Rica attracts nature and wellness travelers. Overall, tourism businesses face varying levels of opportunity and risk depending on visitor demand, connectivity, economic conditions, and destination-specific challenges.

The changing tourism landscape across the Americas presents significant opportunities alongside growing commercial uncertainty. Mexico’s expanding international arrivals and Brazil’s diversified visitor demand offer encouraging prospects. Meanwhile, weaker overseas arrivals in the United States and disruptions affecting Caribbean destinations create challenges for hospitality businesses. Hotels, restaurants, and tour operators must respond to changing travel purposes, currency movements, airline connectivity, and consumer spending. Companies that diversify visitor markets, strengthen regional partnerships, and adapt their services could improve resilience. Ultimately, the industry’s future depends on understanding why travelers visit, how much they spend, and which destinations successfully respond to evolving international demand.

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