Guatemala reaps more benefits from tourism

Guatemala scored a big 32.7 percent growth in tourism earnings during the first quarter of 2003 compared to the same span of time the year before, the Guatemalan Tourism Institute (INGUAT) reported.

The first three months of 2003 poured $175 million into the country’s coffers, $131.9 million more than in the first quarter of 2002, according to an INGUAT press release citing stats provided by the Central Bank of Guatemala.

In a breakdown analysis, January came up with $63.4 million, while February and March churned out $57.2 million and $54.4 million, respectively.

“This figure amounts to an all-time high for the nation and buttresses tourism as the second largest source of hard-currency cash right behind money remittances from overseas,” the report says.

However, the information does not reveal the countries nor the amount of tourists who traveled to Guatemala.

All through last year, Guatemala raked in $612 million, 24.3 percent more than the year before.