Chile ranks 35th of 110 economies in the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, with 4.39 points on a scale of 1 to 7, and is the second-best placed country in Latin America, behind only Brazil (32nd, 4.41 versus 4.39). It rose three places and improved its score by 2.9% compared with 2024, above the average for the Americas (+1.6%), according to the Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026 report, produced with Zurich Insurance Group.
*Updated on October 27, 2026.* The index does not measure how many tourists arrive, but each country's conditions for developing tourism: infrastructure, air connectivity, safety, natural and cultural resources, prices, sustainability and public policy, among others. Data were collected up to May 2026 and the report was published in September. In Chile, the news was reported by El Mostrador and other media on October 26 and 27.
Latin America tourism ranking 2026: the top 10
| # in the region | Country | World rank | Score (1 to 7) | Change in rank since 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | 32 | 4.41 | -5 |
| 2 | Chile | 35 | 4.39 | +3 |
| 3 | Mexico | 41 | 4.31 | -6 |
| 4 | Argentina | 48 | 4.22 | +2 |
| 5 | Costa Rica | 51 | 4.16 | -2 |
| 6 | Colombia | 54 | 4.13 | -3 |
| 7 | Peru | 64 | 3.96 | -4 |
| 8 | Panama | 65 | 3.96 | -3 |
| 9 | Dominican Republic | 66 | 3.93 | 0 |
| 10 | Uruguay | 71 | 3.82 | -1 |
Source: World Economic Forum, Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, figure 7 (overall ranking). Covers Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries of Latin America and the Caribbean; Jamaica is ranked 78th. Changes since 2024 use the 2024 figures recalculated by the report itself.
Chile in the tourism ranking: what changed since 2024
Chile was one of the few countries in the region that moved up. Brazil fell five places (from 27th to 32nd) and Mexico six (from 35th to 41st), while Chile went from 38th to 35th. As a result, the gap between Chile and Brazil narrowed to two hundredths of a point. Compared with 2019, Chile is up one place and its score is 3.8% higher.
| Chile indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Rank 2026 | 35 of 110 |
| Score 2026 | 4.39 of 7 |
| Change in rank since 2024 | +3 |
| Change in score since 2024 | +2.9% |
| Change in rank since 2019 | +1 |
| Change in score since 2019 | +3.8% |
Source: WEF, figure 7. A clarification: in the 2024 edition, Chile had appeared in 31st place out of 119 economies, as reported by Forbes Chile. The 2026 report notes that it revised data and adjusted indicators, recalculated the 2019, 2021 and 2024 figures and covers 110 economies, so comparisons with earlier editions are limited. The three-place rise is measured against that recalculated 2024.
The countries best prepared for tourism in the world
| Rank | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 5.27 |
| 2 | United States | 5.23 |
| 3 | Spain | 5.22 |
| 4 | Australia | 5.18 |
| 5 | France | 5.17 |
| 6 | Germany | 5.09 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 5.08 |
| 8 | China | 5.00 |
| 9 | Switzerland | 4.97 |
| 10 | Italy | 4.93 |
Source: WEF, Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026. Japan moved into first place and the United States dropped to second. Canada, in 14th place, is the best-ranked country in the Americas after the United States.
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See advertising optionsWhat the report says about the Americas and world tourism
- The Americas improve, but less: the region's average score rose 1.6% between 2024 and 2026, below Asia-Pacific (+3.6%) and the Middle East and North Africa (+2.5%).
- Prices hold the region back: according to the WEF, the Americas improved in cultural resources, tourist services and air connectivity, but a decline in price competitiveness limited progress.
- Travel is more expensive: 75% of the economies in the index lost price competitiveness between 2024 and 2026.
- Record demand: in 2025 there were 1.5 billion international tourist arrivals worldwide, and the sector's contribution to the global economy reached US$11.6 trillion.
- Worker shortage: the report warns that the sector could need 43 million more workers by 2035.
Source: WEF, Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026. For Chile, the price data matter: the strong dollar makes the country cheaper for foreigners, as we explain in the dollar near 1,000 pesos, but between January and August 2026 19.1% fewer foreign tourists arrived, as we show in tourist arrivals by year.
How to read this tourism ranking
- It is not a ranking of arrivals: a country can have good conditions and receive few tourists, or the other way around. Actual arrivals in Chile are in our ranking of foreign tourists by country.
- It measures 17 pillars: grouped into five dimensions, with 102 indicators, according to the report.
- Scale of 1 to 7: differences between neighboring countries are often hundredths of a point.
- More statistics: see the busiest airports in South America and the airlines with the most passengers in Chile.
How to cite this data
Viajando Chile (2026). *Latin America tourism ranking 2026: Chile second in the region in the World Economic Forum index*. Based on data from the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026. https://viajandochile.com/en/news/latin-america-tourism-ranking-2026-wef-index
Frequently asked questions
Where does Chile rank in the World Economic Forum tourism ranking?
35th of 110 economies in the 2026 index, with 4.39 points out of 7. It is second in Latin America, behind Brazil.
Which Latin American country is best prepared for tourism?
Brazil, 32nd in the world with 4.41 points, according to the WEF's 2026 index.
Which country leads the world tourism ranking?
Japan, with 5.27 points, followed by the United States and Spain.
