The suspension of the working day on January 2 and 3, 2025, together with the reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 15% to 8% for the provision of all tourist services during the New Year holiday, which ran from January 1 to 5, 2025, yielded positive results for the sector.
This was explained by the head of this State portfolio, Mateo Estrella, who reported in a press conference that the collection for tourism expenditure reached 110 million dollars, which implied an 80% growth in relation to 2024, also registering one and a half million trips, with an increase of 74% compared to the previous year.
The average occupancy rate nationwide reached 50%, however, certain localities achieved higher percentages such as Cuenca (Azuay) which reached 85%, Baños de Agua Santa (Tungurahua) and San Miguel de Los Bancos (Pichincha) which were above 70% average occupancy, while in the Insular Region, San Cristóbal stood out with 65%. In the Amazon, Napo and Pastaza reached 60%. The Ecuadorian coasts also exceeded the average, reaching 100% occupancy in Villamil Playas, Manta, Puerto López, Atacames and the entire Santa Elena peninsula.
Jorge Veintimilla, owner of the Caridi Chipipe hotel in Salinas, commented that “despite the natural conditions such as waves and waterlogging on the coast, visitors did not stop arriving at the first beach resort in Ecuador, resulting in a great demand for visitors during the mega holiday.” Veintimilla said that the year started with good results and in his case the accommodation was 100% full during the holiday. “We hope to continue counting on the support of the public sector with the promotion and dissemination of the activities that take place in each destination to motivate the visit of locals and foreigners to the tourist destinations” he concluded.
Minister Estrella stressed that there was significant inter-institutional coordination between the Ministry of Tourism, the Interior, Transport and Public Works ministries, the National Police, the Oceanographic and Antarctic Institute of the Navy (INOCAR), local authorities and tourism service providers who offered important packages to travelers for their tours.
With a positive start to the year for the sector, the National Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, will continue to promote actions that help boost local economies and encourage national and foreign travelers to continue exploring and discovering the natural, cultural and gastronomic diversity that Ecuador has to offer.
Source: Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador.