The Latin American Travel Association (LATA) has teamed up with global travel intelligence experts, Forward Keys, to comprehensively monitor outbound visitor statistics from the UK to Latin America revealing key booking trends according to confirmed air reservations.

Air reservation data over the last 12 months up until 31 July 2019, shows a 1.9% decrease in total flight bookings to Latin America from the United Kingdom compared to the same booking period the previous year. Despite this, total UK outbound flight bookings have dropped by 2.1% during the same period highlighting some resilience from the Latin American travel market.

Looking at flight reservations for the last 12 months (up until 31 July 2019), the research indicates that Mexico accounts for the largest share of UK arrivals to the continent (22.7%), followed by Brazil (17.3%), Peru (8.5%), Cuba (8.4%), and Colombia (8.0%). Both Brazil and Colombia show steady rates of growth at 4.8% and 1.3% respectively (based on flight bookings between August 18 and July 19) whilst Mexico and Peru show a dip in bookings from the UK (-6.2% and -3.1% respectively).  Cuba has showed a greater drop in flight bookings (-22.2% year on year). 

Flight bookings up until 31 July for departures in the coming six months (between August 2019 and January 2020) from the United Kingdom indicate that key growth destinations include Ecuador (ahead 25.1%), Dominican Republic (ahead 24.1%),  Costa Rica (ahead 20.3%) and Chile (ahead 8.3% ) when compared to the same booking period in 2018.  Argentina has also seen a significant increase over the coming six months (+4.6%) making it the fourth most popular destination for Brits in terms of future flight reservations.  Destinations including Bolivia, Guyana and Belize are also performing well with significant increases in bookings over the next six months (+17.4%, +6.1% and +5.4% respectively). 

Looking at past departures between January and July 2019 from the UK, Argentina and the Dominican Republic have registered the highest increases (16.1% and 20.9% respectively) compared to the same January - July period in 2018. Chile has also performed well with an 8.8% increase year-on-year whist Costa Rica has registered an increase of 6.7%.  Two of the continents more niche destinations, and coincidentally the only two English speaking countries in Latin America have also performed well; Guyana recording a 16.5% year-on-year increase and Belize registering an increase of 13.9% for the same period.

The research commissioned by LATA on a quarterly basis ensures that the organisation is able to analyse key growth areas and paint a continual picture of the progress Latin America's tourism sector is making.

Colin Stewart, chairman of LATA concludes:

These figures give us some useful insight into UK demand and booking habits, and I'm delighted that LATA is in a position to share this valuable information with its members. It's clear that Latin America continues to be a destination that is in demand, and we look forward to working with our LATA members over the next year and beyond to continue to develop sustainable business to the region, and ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism are enjoyed throughout Latin America.