The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 carried out by the World Economic Forum revealed the list of best ranked countries in the world.

The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index measures “the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable development of the travel and tourism sector, which in turn, contributes to the development and competitiveness of a country”, states the WEF website. The study includes 136 countries across 14 separate dimensions.

According to the report, the travel and tourism sector with more than 41 million international arrivals in 2015 and an average growth of 5%, has an incredible potential to help generate growth , create jobs and promote development in the countries and their national economies.

“Latin America is the second most improved region globally; the 2017 index has Spain leading the global ranking ahead of France and Germany, but emerging markets including those in Latin America, continue to close the gap with advanced economies”, states the report. In the region the international arrivals increased from 170 million to 201 million between 2013 and 2015.

In Latin America, Mexico maintains its leadership with position 22 in the global ranking, followed by Brazil (27), Panama (35), Costa Rica (38), Chile(48), Argentina (50), Peru (51), Ecuador (57), Barbados (58) and Colombia (62).

Others countries in Central America actually ranked lower than in previous years, Guatemala went down 6 spots and El Salvador 14 mostly due to security and infrastructure problems but also political factors and sustainability and human resource factors. Honduras is in position 90, Nicaragua 92 and El Salvador 105. Click the above country links for more information on traveling there.

“Despite recent progress, Latin America’s competitiveness, has to continue bridging gaps in terms of quality and efficiency of transportation and should find a better balance between developing its T&T sectors and protecting its environment” added Roberto Crotti, Economist, Competitiveness and Risk, World Economic Forum