URUGUAY: South American Champion...For Tourism in 2009.

M.PRESS/    Little Uruguay came close but didn't win the World Cup. Yet it did finish first...as the overall tourism leader of 15 Latin American countries. In 2009, Uruguay received 2 million tourists, a 7% increase over 2008, equal to 61.4% of the Uruguayan population. Panama followed Uruguay with 45.1% and the Dominican Republic with 44.2%. Brasil was at the bottom of the list for its GDP and population.

Croatian Tourism Drops Again.

BLOOMBERG.
The number of tourists in Croatia declined in July for the third consecutive month. Tourist arrivals dropped 2 percent after decreasing 6 percent in June. Tourism accounts for about a fifth of the gross domestic product of Croatia.

Tourism In Argentina Declines For 8th Month.

From MercoPress.

Costa Rica Tourism...Plunges

Costa Rica's tourism industry is suffering from the global economic crisis...down 13% from 2008.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/costa-rica/090523/tourism-takes-dive-costa-rice

Mexican Tourism Slow to Rebound after Swine Flu Outbreak

Mexico's famous destinations like Cancun and Cozumel have seen few foreign tourists since the swine flu outbreak in April that killed 108 people...despite a $91 million dollar ad campaign.

Instead a new class of tourists has emerged...locals... that some brand as "cheapskates"...lured by the new steep discounts.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=agXnNkxtqHEA