Latin America is currently one of the world's most dynamic tourism regions. According to UN Tourism, the United Nations agency responsible for promoting responsible tourism, international arrivals in South America grew by 7% last year, while Central America saw a 5% increase, both above the global average.
But the boom comes at a price: overtourism. In some destinations, the sheer number of visitors is creating environmental and social problems, fueling tensions and raising questions about who really benefits from the business.
One famous example is Machu Picchu, the Inca citadel in Peru, which lures up to 5,600 visitors a day. In 2025, Peru's official watchdog warned that more tickets were being sold than permitted, potentially putting the site at risk of being added to UNESCO's List of World Heritage in Danger. The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has already expressed its concern.
In a bid to protect the Galapagos Islands and its bountiful ecosystems that inspired Charles Darwin, Ecuador doubled the entrance fee for foreign visitors to $200 in 2024. Even so, pressure is mounting to construct new hotels and tourist apartments. And in Mexico City, the influx of tourists and digital nomads into neighborhoods such as Roma and Condesa has fueled protests over rising rents.
What can be done to make tourism more inclusive and sustainable?
