In 2018 the internal tourism in Paraguay developed greatly and increased by 5%. This means an income of more than 131 millions of US Dollars, if we compare them with the 125 millions of the year 2017.
According to the preliminary data, during the year that has just ended, 2.643.120 inhabitants of Paraguay chose to visit the country and enjoy its attractiveness. This means a difference of 125.863 visitors more than the previous year.
This steady growth of the internal tourism is helped by the creation of innovative tourist products, like for instance the circuits/routes of ao po´í, ñandutí, of the rice and of the Franciscan Path; moreover it is supported by the strengthening of the already consolidated Jesuitical Paths, the yerba mate, the Paraguayan cane and the new offers of gastronomic activities.
These activities were very important and led Paraguayan people to know their country and also the creation of new opportunities of accommodation through the programme “Tourist accommodation in Paraguay”, carried out by the “National Secretary of Tourism (Senatur), that currently has 242 accomodations in 70 locations and 12 Departments of the country.
The National Secretary of the country aims to double its efforts with a decisive international promotion campaign and with a presence in the main worldwide fairs, but also to create new thematic tourist circuits and also to work to attract class and international events. This is really a big gamble.
In this regard, Senatur is strongly working to carry out a strategic plan for a Congressional Tourism in collaboration with the Conventions Bureaus of Asunción, Itapúa and Alto Paraná.
Moreover, the Secretary is creating new tourist experiences and aims to draw attention and position Paraguay in the receptive tourism within non traditional markets at regional level, at hemisphere level and worldwide, like Chile, Peru and Bolivia and other much farther away markets like United States and Europe.
Another important point to highlight is the creation of an Air Connectivity Board with the collaboration of the National Civil Aviation Board, in order to facilitate the arrival of many more airlines in Paraguay and increase the number of flights.
On the other hand, it is important to point out that that among all tourists arrived in Paraguay during 2018, Argentineans were 71,86% and this figure shows a decrease of 3,21%, if we compare it with the year 2017. Brazil is number two with 15,39% of total visitors, Uruguay is number three with 1,46% and finally Spain is number four with 1,06%.
To arrive in Paraguay these visitors used land routes (71,22%), airlines (17,59%) and ships (11,18%).
The just referred preliminary data were analyzed by the Department of Statistics and Investigation of the National Secretary of Tourism (Senatur), according to the control system of arrival and departure in Paraguay (SICESPAR), to the Directorate General of Immigration and to the guest average on the basis of the last survey on Receptive Tourism, carried out from March 2008 to March 2009, and still in force.
