Guatemala Tourism Draws 1.6 Million Visitors in First Half of 2026
Guatemala · Tourism
The sector earned Guatemala US$1.39 billion last year, and the government is now chasing 3.63 million arrivals in 2026.
Guatemala tourism kept climbing through the first half of 2026, with 1,625,849 non-resident visitors arriving between January and June. That was roughly 14,944 more than the same stretch of 2025, a gain of about 1%.
The country’s tourism board wants far bigger numbers before the year ends.
What the first-half numbers show
The figures come from INGUAT, Guatemala’s national tourism institute. In its July report, the agency counted 1,625,849 non-resident visitors for the first six months of the year.
That is a small increase over 2025, not a boom. Still, it keeps Guatemala on an upward path after a strong prior year.
Why Guatemala tourism matters to the economy
Tourism is one of the few sectors that brings fresh foreign money straight into the country. Visitors pay in dollars for hotels, meals, guides, transport and handicrafts.
That hard currency helps Guatemala pay for imports and steady its finances. It also spreads income to small towns, where jobs are otherwise scarce.
The money tourists leave behind
In 2025, tourism generated US$1,390.2 million in foreign exchange, an official record for Guatemala. For a mid-sized economy, that is a meaningful stream of dollars.
The pace has held up in 2026. Between January and May, visitor spending reached US$523 million, a rise of 0.86% from a year earlier.
Where the visitors come from
Most arrivals are regional. Central America supplied the bulk of visitors, and El Salvador and the United States remain the two largest single-country markets.
That mix matters because nearby travelers are easy to attract and quick to return. However, both El Salvador and the US dipped slightly in the first half of 2026.
New markets are picking up the slack
The overall gain came from further afield. In the first half, arrivals from Colombia jumped about 42%, from Japan around 39%, and from Russia roughly 30%.
As a result, Guatemala offset softer demand from its two biggest markets. That broader spread makes the sector less dependent on any single country.
A record 2025 set a high bar
Guatemala closed 2025 with 3,361,843 non-resident visitors. That was up 11% from 3,037,282 the year before, a strong jump.
Because 2025 was so busy, matching it in 2026 was always going to be hard. In that light, the modest first-half growth still counts as progress.
The government’s ambitious 2026 target
INGUAT is aiming high for the full year. It wants 3.63 million arrivals and about US$1.516 billion in tourism receipts by December.
The longer goal is bolder still. Officials are targeting 4 million visitors by 2027, backed by promotion abroad and a push on sustainable travel.
What could slow things down
Reaching those numbers will not be easy. With growth running near 1% so far, the second half would need to accelerate sharply.
Softer demand from El Salvador and the US is the main risk. Yet rising interest from South America, Asia and Europe offers a way to close the gap.
What to watch next
The next INGUAT bulletins will show whether the far-flung markets keep surging. They will also reveal if regional travel recovers in the busy year-end season.
For now, Guatemala tourism is growing, if slowly. The bigger question is whether promotion can turn that steady trickle into the surge the government wants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tourists visited Guatemala in early 2026?
Guatemala received 1,625,849 non-resident visitors between January and June 2026, about 1% more than the same period of 2025.
How much does tourism earn Guatemala?
Tourism generated US$1,390.2 million in foreign exchange in 2025. From January to May 2026, spending reached US$523 million.
Where do most visitors to Guatemala come from?
Most come from Central America, with El Salvador and the United States as the biggest single-country markets. Colombia, Japan and Russia grew fast in 2026.
What are Guatemala’s tourism goals?
INGUAT is targeting 3.63 million arrivals and about US$1.516 billion in receipts in 2026. With a longer-term goal of 4 million visitors by 2027.
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