Tourism News for North & Central America
COVID19 Vaccinations % as of March 2021
With cross border travel restrictions still in effect as of this writing, the tourism news for the United States, Canada, and Central American countries like Costa Rica may seem troubling but we are very hopeful.
Vaccinations are not only helping to save lives but also helping to protect others and slow the spread of the coronavirus.
In the United States, with the current COVID-19 vaccination rate, the program is projected to be completed by August 2021.
As of March 31, 2021 approximately 51% of the people have been vaccinated across North and Central America according to the World Health Organization website.
With a boost in consumer confidence for travel, airlines, cruise lines, and travel agencies are starting to see more traffic and bookings. We anticipate limited capacity seating, sanitization, and wearing masks as still high priorities in the foreseeable future.
United States Tourism News
According to a Macrotrends USA Tourism Report, prior to the Pandemic, the United States enjoyed a steady increase in tourism dollars climbing from:
- Just Over 120 Billion In 2000
- To About 168 Billion In 2010
- To Over 256 Billion In 2018
These numbers include dollars spent on transportation, hotels and meals, plus recreation and entertainment.
US Growth in Tourism $ (2000 – 2018)
The US travel industry alone employed approximately 7.1% of the population totaling nearly 18 million jobs.
In fact, 1 in 10 US jobs relied on the travel and tourism industry.
Unfortunately, this section of the job market was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A staggering 70% of all tourism related jobs were lost or dramatically affected in the US.
Inbound international visitors also dramatically declined during 2020 by over 76%.
While it’s easy to see how the travel and tourism industry will be vital to the rebuilding of the American economy, most experts predict that by 2025, travel and tourism may only recover back to 2014 levels.
Prior to the pandemic, on average, Americans were spending just over $6000 per person on international travel. While these tourism dollars have been kept in America, it has had a dramatic effect on neighboring countries like Canada.
Canada Tourism News
For nearly a year Canada has implemented restrictions on travel into and out of the country except for those with dual citizenship. Canada has since rolled out a 4-stage COVID-19 vaccination program with phase 3 beginning in April and the entire program scheduled for completion by June 2021.
According to Macrotrends Canada Tourism News Report, prior to the Pandemic Canada enjoyed a steady increase in tourism dollars climbing from just over 13 billion in 2000 to nearly 18.5 billion in 2010, and nearly 22 billion by 2018.
Following the pandemic, international visitors to Canada fell by nearly 92% including fewer Americans crossing the Canadian border. For 2021, Canada has also banned all cruise ships carrying over 100 passengers, virtually shutting down the cruise economy in Canada for 2021.
Costa Rica Tourism News
By the end of March 2021 Costa Rica had only vaccinated just over 4% of the population but the country does have plans to speed up this process.
According to a Macrotrends Costa Rica Tourism News Report, prior to the pandemic Costa Rica enjoyed considerable growth in tourism dollars climbing from just over 1.6 billion in 2000 to more than 2.4 billion in 2010, and nearly 4 billion in 2018.
Tourism is the #1 industry in Costa Rica, so the government began reopening its borders to US citizens in September 2020. Travelers are required to submit a digital Health Pass form and must also have travel and medical insurance coverage.
If you are planning on vacationing in Latin America, check out our post on Central America vacation FAQs.
What are some of the top tourist attractions in Costa Rica?
Arenal Volcano National Park, Manuel Antonio National Park, and Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve are three of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica.
What are some of the top tourist attractions in Canada?
The Rocky Mountains & Banff National Park plus the Halifax waterfront and the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy (in New Brunswick) are some of the top tourist attractions in Canada.
What are some of the top tourist attractions in the United States?
The Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Hollywood are just a few of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States.
About Caravan Tours
Since 1952, Caravan Tours has been escorting travelers on all-inclusive tours throughout the United States, Canada, and the Central American countries of Costa Rica, Panama, and Guatemala.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all 2021 tours by Caravan have been cancelled. Plans are in place to resume our all-inclusive, fully escorted tours in 2022 as the pandemic subsides and travel restrictions are lifted.
We have taken this time to update and redesign our website which was launched in 2021. We look forward to serving you in the near future.
Thank you for your interest in Caravan Tours. See our Stride Travel Review here.
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