An analysis of the Latin America value-added chain of tourism

This paper examines the tourism value-added chain across nine Latin American countries, assessing tourism’s economic impact across industries and borders. It highlights interactions among service providers (lodging, transportation, hospitality) and distribution intermediaries (tour operators, travel agents, online platforms) that generate complex economic flows. Using data from the Tourism Satellite Accounts of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, and Paraguay, and trade information from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean’s (ECLAC) multi-country Input-Output matrix, the study approximates Latin America’s tourism value-added chain. An adapted methodology enables the simultaneous analysis of multiple countries, providing insights into their roles within global tourism flows. The results lay a foundation for policies promoting economic inclusion in the tourism sector.