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This post will present the statistics of foreign tourists in Ecuador 2018, showing great growth.
Although there is growth and that is what ultimately matters, during all the 2018 growth has been exceeded 51% income of foreign tourists compared to the 2017, pero la realidad es que estos datos están «mezclados».
Mixed with income people coming from Venezuela and who are passing through Ecuador to the south of the continent or plan to stay in the country to work, so not necessarily, son turistas como tales que dejen ingresos como el resto de los que llamaremos «sí turistas».
It must also be taken into account that many entries of for example USA o Spain are from Ecuadorians who return to visit their families and have dual citizenship, but that the statistics also take them as tourists, although they do leave foreign currency on their visit to the country.
On the other hand, Ecuadorians came out a -3.2% less than the year 2017, so that market should also be stimulated with, for example,, the elimination of the tax EcoDelta.
Foreign tourists Ecuador 2018
First we will make a comparison with the statistical data of the year 2017 that will allow us to put in perspective the growth of the 51% what happened in the 2018.
Statistics 2017
| TOTAL 2017 | 1,608,473 |
| Colombia | 330671 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 287972 |
| United States of America | 244600 |
| Peru | 139116 |
| Spain | 58727 |
| Argentina | 44662 |
| Chile | 44522 |
| Germany | 33439 |
| China | 30147 |
| Canada | 28342 |
| Mexico | 27541 |
| United Kingdom | 25623 |
| France | 25394 |
| Cuba | 24920 |
| Brazil | 21914 |
| Philippines | 19077 |
| Panama | 18108 |
| Italy | 17361 |
| Netherlands | 16033 |
| India | 13501 |
| Australia | 11312 |
| Switzerland | 11115 |
| Costa Rica | 8949 |
| Russian Federation | 6956 |
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 6826 |
| Belgium | 5998 |
| Japan | 5855 |
| The Savior | 5811 |
| Korea (Republic of) | 5606 |
| Uruguay | 5532 |
Until the 2017 Colombia was the main market for tourists arriving in Ecuador, but Venezuela was already very close, por lo que también ese año las estadísticas se podrían decir que están «distorsionadas».
Statistics 2018
| TOTAL 2018 | 2,428,536 |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 956,067 |
| United States of America | 351,709 |
| Colombia | 323,345 |
| Peru | 146,938 |
| Spain | 103,008 |
| Chile | 45,778 |
| Argentina | 40,964 |
| Germany | 35,513 |
| Canada | 34,335 |
| Mexico | 30,425 |
| United Kingdom | 28,238 |
| France | 27,597 |
| China | 26,231 |
| Brazil | 22,503 |
| Cuba | 20,135 |
| Italy | 19,944 |
| Panama | 18,460 |
| Netherlands | 18,075 |
| Philippines | 15,536 |
| India | 12,439 |
| Switzerland | 11,588 |
| Australia | 11,534 |
| Costa Rica | 8,639 |
| Belgium | 6,988 |
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 6,530 |
| Russian Federation | 6,215 |
| Uruguay | 5,704 |
| Japan | 5,555 |
| Korea (Republic of) | 5,370 |
| Ukraine | 4,975 |
*Only the first ones are shown 30 most important countries by entries to Ecuador of a total of 235.
It's very clear, the 2018 almost 1 million visitors were from Venezuela, so it cannot be said that the country has really grown in the number of tourists who have entered the country due to what was stated at the beginning of this post.
Comparative
But if we focus on the markets that most interest the country and compare both years, podemos ver un crecimiento en la mayoría de los mercados que «interesan más» a Ecuador:
| 2017 | 2018 | Variation | ||
| USA | 244600 | USA | 351709 | 44% |
| Colombia | 330671 | Colombia | 323345 | -2% |
| Spain | 58727 | Spain | 103008 | 75% |
| Argentina | 44662 | Argentina | 40964 | -8% |
| Chile | 44522 | Chile | 45778 | 3% |
| Germany | 33439 | Germany | 35513 | 6% |
| China | 30147 | China | 26231 | -13% |
| Canada | 28342 | Canada | 34335 | 21% |
| Mexico | 27541 | Mexico | 30425 | 10% |
| United Kingdom | 25623 | United Kingdom | 28238 | 10% |
| France | 25394 | France | 27597 | 9% |
| Brazil | 21914 | Brazil | 22503 | 3% |
| Panama | 18108 | Panama | 18460 | 2% |
| Netherlands | 16033 | Netherlands | 18075 | 13% |
| Australia | 11312 | Australia | 11534 | 2% |
| Switzerland | 11115 | Switzerland | 11588 | 4% |
Air and maritime statistics
Analyzing the statistics of the Ministry of Tourism, I found that the closest way to have a closer number of foreign tourists visiting Ecuador is by analyzing the income by air and by boat.
So we have these more specific data:
| TOTAL 2017 | 978,562 |
| TOTAL 2018 | 1,120,810 |
During the 2018 Ecuador passed the limit of one million tourists, what a represents 15% more compared to the 2017, what for my analysis, is the «cifra oficial» of tourists who visited our country during the 2018, can vary by a couple of hundred thousand.
Conclusions
Se puede decir que no tenemos un número real de cuántos «sí turistas» han llegado a Ecuador, but whatever the case, we must continue working so that the key countries for our market continue to grow.
The outlook is encouraging, but exact statistical data is required and filtered to the migratory reality of the country.
Ecuador is still far from reaching the dream 1 x 1 of foreign tourists, but the arrival of new airlines like Joon – Air France, GOAL, increase in flights and destinations JetBlue, Laser Airlines, Peruvian Airlines, plus the intentions of Sky Airline, VivaAir and others, will allow the numbers to continue to grow.
This growth can be accelerated as long as the promotion of Ecuador is also increased, incentives are generated and a culture quality tourist service, that allows us to differentiate ourselves from our strong regional competition.
We are on the good way, but with so much still to do.
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A favor I need the statistics of tourist income to the Cayambe canton year 2018 and 2019
Maybe on the MINTUR website, I only have air passenger statistics.
What are the sources of this information??
Ministry of Tourism.
How to explain the closure of many small hostels in the city of Quito, especially in the La Mariscal area?
La Ronda street is part of the Heritage, without tourists and the statistics of the big hotels have not been very encouraging…always refers me to Quito
The Airbnb effect could be one of the causes for the drop.
I sincerely thank you for the data issued on this page, it helps a lot, especially in academic reports..
A pleasure, I appreciate the corresponding credits. Thanks.
Hi Nicolas, receive a big hug for new year 2019! …. Wishing you continue with your project and informing us satisfactorily with your publications.
My question regarding the arrival of tourists, especially by air, when will the national and international traffic statistics for UIO be available, as well as the cargo in the period 2018? It's suddenly the end of February?
Thank you very much and best regards.
1 when 300000 Venezuelans have passed and have stayed in our lands in two years, is an extreme amount of truth
no my life they don't stay if you see the exit statistics that are also on that same page it shows that of that amount only he stays 1 %,
A very good analysis Nicholas, a question. Where did you get that stats??, could you tell me the source, Thanks a lot !
Website of the Ministry of Tourism. Thanks for your comment!
Hi Nicolas.
Happy New Year 2019!
Sorry for the off topic… What do you consider the best website/app to buy cheap plane tickets??
Thanks
None, what you should do is search all and on the airlines' website until you find the best cost. Happy New Year!